Gov. Scott Signs "Pink Slip Budget"

SUMTER COUNTY - Gov. Rick Scott, known to many Floridians as "Pink Slip Rick", will sign a budget today eliminating thousands of jobs while middle class Floridians continue to grapple with 10.4% unemployment, a struggling economy and massive cuts to public education and social services.

"Rick Scott is prioritizing Wall Street over Main Street with his plan to hand out tax cuts to CEOs and pink slips to middle class Floridians," said Amy Ritter, Director of Research for Florida Watch Action.

Gov. Scott ran on a platform of creating 700,000 jobs in seven years yet will be signing a budget today that eliminates thousands of jobs. 

"Rick Scott ran on creating jobs but instead he is running Florida's economy into the ditch," said Mark Ferrulo, Executive Director of Progress Florida.  "Since this governor has been in office, we have seen him break his promise not to cut education funding, turn down job-creating projects such as High Speed Rail, and today he signs a budget that eliminates thousands of jobs."

Groups such as Progress Florida and Florida Watch Action point out that while the governor has slashed jobs in sectors such as health care, the environment, education, and transportation, he was quick to increase the salaries of his political agency appointments at the start of his administration.

"It's simply outrageous that the governor would hand out $20,000 pay increases to his political appointees while cutting jobs for the rest of Florida," said Ritter.  "We need a governor who cares about middle class Floridians."

Polls this week reflect that the frustration is growing among the electorate with Gov. Scott, especially with his plan to cut instead of create jobs.

Thousands of Floridians have been protesting Scott's agenda since the start of session.  Awake the State, launched on March 8th, has held rallies in more than 35 cities throughout Florida and has attracted more than 20,000 people to events from Pensacola to Key West.

"Floridians are outraged by Rick Scott's job performance," said Ferrulo.  "If this keeps up, he will be the one holding the pink slip in the end."

Florida Watch Action has launched a website, www.PinkSlipRick.com, that tracks job losses since Gov. Scott took office and where Floridians can "sound off" on the governor's job performance. 

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Florida Watch Action is an organization dedicated to strengthening the progressive movement in Florida.

Progress Florida is the state's largest netroots organization and works toward building a more progressive Florida.