TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida)- Governor Rick Scott helped launch the 2018 legislative session Tuesday with a State of the State address that focused on issues such as holding down taxes, supporting law enforcement and addressing sexual harassment.
The speech to a joint session of the Legislature was the term-limited Scott’s final State of the State address.
He says state leaders need to invest in such things as the environment, education and transportation infrastructure. Scott is also pushing a proposal to require a vote by a two-thrids majority of the legislature in order to approve a tax increase.
“I want 2018 to be the year that Florida voters pass a constitutional amendment that makes it harder for politicians to raise taxes," said Scott.
Many Democrats were skeptical of the governor’s speech. State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando says Scott’s vision for the state does not help all Florida residents.
“It’s very obvious that we are heading in a totally different direction as Democrats than the Republicans," said State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D- Orlando. "Not just on immigration policies, but also on how we fund our public schools.”
Scott also addressed issues related to Hurricane Irma, saying he thinks Florida has come back “even stronger” after the storm. He also discussed the state’s efforts to help in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
The governor also encouraged lawmakers to pass sexual-harassment legislation, while saying he wants to spend $53 million to help fight the opioid epidemic in the state.
“Unfortunately, we have seen this play out all over the country, including in Tallahassee," said Scott. "Things have to change. It has to start here. It has to start in this building. The people of Florida deserve much better than what they are reading about in the news.”
