Sen. Rick Scott defends voting record during Tampa campaign stop

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Sen. Rick Scott campaigned in Tampa Friday as he runs for re-election.

During this campaign stop, he focused on manufacturing jobs.

The Florida Department of Commerce said the state is 10th in terms of manufacturing. The latest figures show that nearly 500,000 Floridians have jobs in this sector. This includes engineers, assemblers and power plant operators.

He discussed plans to keep manufacturing jobs in Florida.

“The most important thing I can do is keep taxes and fees as low as possible,” Scott said. “Try to balance the budget. That’s the only way to lower interest rates, which will impact every business, is a balanced budget.

He also admits that to keep manufacturing jobs, he must work with other branches of government.

“Try to impact the regulatory environment,” he said. “It’s done primarily within the executive branch, but you’re trying to impact that and then make sure we’re not put in an unfair position where China is stealing our technology, because I want jobs Americans.”

Scott, a former two-term governor, has criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration, particularly issues at the southern border. He said Florida is feeling the effects.

“Here’s what’s bad for our state. If you talk to sheriff’s offices across the state, they will tell you how much fentanyl is coming into our state,” Scott said.

Biden has argued that he needs the power of Congress to take meaningful action on the border and reform immigration. Scott disagrees.

“First of all, the only person who could close the border today and stop this is Joe Biden. He decided not to do it,” Scott said.

Last month, Scott helped block a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing border crossings and cracking down on migration.

“It wasn’t about the boundary,” Scott said. “It did nothing to secure the border.”

His likely Democratic opponent, former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, places the blame on Republicans like Scott.

“The crisis at our border lies with Rick Scott and his far-right radical friends, who have proven time and time again that they will avoid real solutions at all costs to use this issue for political gain,” Mucarsel-Powell said .

The Democrat, who is running and hopes to replace Scott, also criticized his voting record on access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and contraception nationally.

“Actions speak louder than words, and despite what Rick Scott wants Floridians to believe, he refused to stand up and protect Americans’ access to IVF when he had the chance,” said Mucarsel-Powell.

Mucarsel-Powell will know if she faces Scott after an August primary.

Earlier this month, Scott helped block bills intended to ensure in vitro fertilization and access to contraception across the country.

“Contraception is legal everywhere. IVF is legal everywhere. This will continue to be legal everywhere,” the senator said. The senator then explained why he voted against moving the measures forward.

“I think everyone should read the bill. He had a bill; we had a vote on contraception which I support. We had an IVF bill that I support. I have a daughter who is currently undergoing IVF. So it’s hard for women,” he said.

Scott believed that religious freedom was threatened by these measures.

In downtown Tampa on Friday, the Americans for Contraception group released an inflatable IUD. Democratic lawmakers were also there to criticize Scott’s voting record on these issues.

“He’s trying to have it both ways,” said Assemblywoman Kathy Castor. “His rhetoric does not match his record. He votes against IVF but says he supports it. He votes against contraception, but says he supports it. But his file constitutes proof accessible to all Floridians.

The inflatable IUD will make a stop in Tallahassee on Monday.