We constantly hear about how a positive climate for business needs to be created in Florida. The Republican majority as well as complicit Democrats constantly bring this topic up. Floridians of different political and ideological persuasions all agree that we need to attract new business to the state.
But with the exception of the much ballyhooed Scripps facility attracted by the Bush Administration to Palm Beach County efforts to attract large companies to relocate administrative headquarters and large facilitates to Florida have fallen flat. At the same time, Florida’s public universities have faced remarkable cuts in budgets and as a result a drop in national reputation.
For all the tax incentives and rhetoric of Republicans in the legislature and executive branch they have proven over the past decade they are consistently unable to attract business to the state. Interestingly, Republicans in neighboring southern states have fared much better at attracting large corporations to either relocate or set up major operations.
For a state of its size, one of four true “mega-states” with more large and medium sized urban areas than any other state in the US, Florida has a pathetically small number of Fortune 1000 companies based in the state. Despite a tax rate lower than most states and “right to work” status which prevents unions from effectively organizing, Florida’s Republicans have failed badly.
While unable to attract new businesses or foster a climate of innovation that develops successful companies the Republicans have done more damage with cuts to Higher Education that have resulted in the plummeting national reputation of the state’s top universities.
Perhaps the GOP’s agenda is protect current Florida businesses by busting unions, lowering taxes and preventing competition or innovation in marketplace. Weakening higher education ensures that chances of a well educated workforce emerging to threaten the old order are remote.
Republicans and Democrats in other southern states deserve credit for their ability to encourage and solicit economic development from large corporations. The types of high end corporate jobs that Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee in particular have attracted over the last fifteen years is admirable. While those states have moved forward, Florida, once the envy of the region has stagnated or regressed. While Republicans in other southern states have taken governing seriously, Florida’s GOP have chosen to use control of state government as an opportunity to implement the experiments of right-wing Washington think tanks and special interest groups. It is no small wonder Florida continues to be the butt of jokes nationally.
This is one of the most useful articles on this site. A debate worth having. Note that in the southern states you mention that conservative Democrats were largely responsible for attracting companies while keeping education standards high. Here in Florida the Republicans have trashed higher Ed. This is why the DLC Third Way was so useful and successful for the country.
Good piece. I happen to agree. Tax incentives to large companies that would employ a lot of executives in Florida are a smart policy but that has not seemed to happen under the watch of the current majority. We have a pathetically low number of corporations based here.
They aren’t even really trying you know…
In the Right To Work State of Alabama both parties work together to bring in industry shelling out the money needed to attract car compaines. Works well in Georgia too. Most of the Legislators are long time residents of each state whereas in Florida we have a constant flow of people coming and going.