Florida Governor Blows Off Questions About His State’s Lackluster Job Creation

Amy Baker, the Florida Legislature’s chief economist, found that the two-point drop in the state’s unemployment rate is almost entirely attributable to people dropping out of the workforce while job creation has been sluggish. Only a week ago, Scott said that “every economic indicator we have is good,” but when Bloomberg reporter Michael Bender tried to question Scott about the report, the governor dismissed the scrutiny, according to the Miami Herald:

Reporter: “Are you saying those numbers from the state economist are wrong, Governor?”

Scott: “I’m saying we generated 130,000 jobs.”

Reporter: “But that’s not all of the—“

Scott: “Mike, I’ve answered all your questions on that.”

Reporter: “But, no, my question is about the unemployment rate drop—“

Scott: “Mike! I said I’ve answered all your questions.”

Scott ran for governor on the slogan “Let’s get to work,” promising to create 700,000 jobs in addition to normal job growth. Last year, he walked back that campaign pledge after killing thousands of jobs in the state. “I don’t know who said that,” Scott said when asked about the promise.