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3 More Bad Stories For Self-Serving Scott

Rick Scott’s self-serving, dishonest politics are continuing to hamstring his campaign — three new reports from this weekend alone highlight the dangerous consequences of Scott’s cronyism, his hypocritical campaign contributions, and his cuts to substance abuse prevention programs. See for yourself:

Miami Herald HEADLINE: Florida’s slashed drug programs will result in hundreds of layoffs
Mary Ellen Klas
May 25, 2018

  • Scott and leaders of the Florida House rejected appeals to save $28 million in prison programs Friday, choosing instead to allow hundreds of layoffs at inmate transition and treatment programs throughout the state when the programs close at the end of June. The cuts offered up by the Florida Department of Corrections will reduce access to dozens of privately run programs that had a proven track record of preventing offenders from returning to crime and drugs.
  • Tom Griffin, CEO of Transition House in Kissimmee, which will lose half of his 30-member staff, blames the governor for not providing more forceful leadership. “The governor has the ability to stop it because he has money in his rainy day fund to do this,” he said. “State economists have said with the opioid crisis, a majority of the people entering prison have a drug problem. It makes no sense to be shutting down treatment programs now.”

See also: Tampa Bay Times HEADLINE: Drug and alcohol advocates to Rick Scott: ‘We have yet to hear’ from you.

Politico HEADLINE: As Scott hammers Venezuela, his campaign takes contribution from biggest buyer of its oil
Matt Dixon
May 25, 2018

  • As Gov. Rick Scott hits the campaign trail trashing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, he is accepting contributions from Valero Energy Corporation, a Texas oil refiner that is the biggest buyer of the country’s oil.
  • Scott’s campaign took $5,000 last month from the company, which in recent months has purchased 200,000 barrels-a-day from Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the country’s state-run oil company. The company boosted its purchases from Venezuela ahead of U.S. sanctions that were imposed earlier this week after Maduro was reelected, according to Reuters.

Miami Herald HEADLINE: How does an inexperienced 30-year-old become hurricane chief? Win Rick Scott’s trust.
Elizabeth Koh
May 25, 2018

  • Critics have equated Maul’s rapid promotions to cronyism in a governor’s administration that has rewarded other trusted aides with rapidly increasing responsibilities.
  • There is another reality in Scott’s waning administration that may have colored the pick, said Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, who during the legislative session raised questions about the state’s response to Hurricane Irma. “There was less experience in there than you would, I think, typically want to have in a department so critical,” he conceded.

See also: Tampa Bay Times, Romano: Hey Gov. Scott, could you hire me, too?; Tampa Bay Times: Editorial: Scott sinks to new low on cronyism at Revenue Department; Politico: Top DEM hire has no disaster management experience but has ties to Scott; Miami Herald: Need a stable and high-paying state job? Rick Scott loyalists have the inside track; Pensacola News Journal Editorial: Gov. Scott’s cronyism shows lack of conservative values; Tampa Bay Times: Ruth: Don’t run government like Rick Scott ran his business.

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