Florida Governor Coming to Philly to Poach Jobs
Florida Gov. Rick Scott waves after the swearing in for his second term as governor of Florida at the Florida state capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. The inauguration took place in front of the Old Capitol. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
Florida Gov. Rick Scott says he’s coming to Philadelphia next month to try to lure businesses and jobs here back to his state — making a rhetorical assault on Governor-elect Tom Wolf before Wolf even takes office.
“Governor Tom Wolf’s proposed tax increases and mandates on businesses will no doubt be heavy blows to Pennsylvania families. In contrast, Florida is working to become even more business friendly.”
While Florida has no individual income tax, Pennsylvania’s is 3.07 percent, and Governor Tom Wolf wants to raise it even higher. Additionally, Pennsylvania’s corporate income tax is nearly double Florida’s. Pennsylvania also has taxes on inheritance and capital stock, neither of which exists in Florida. Overall, Florida’s business climate is ranked 5th, while Pennsylvania is ranked 24th by the Tax Foundation.
This isn’t the first time Scott has targeted Democrat-led states for poaching. He made similar efforts in 2013, targeting businesses in California, Illinois, Maryland, Connecticut and Minnesota. No word on what Wolf’s response might be; but this seems to be an excellent time to break glass and put Ed Rendell on the case. [Rick Scott]
