Issue Position: Economy & Jobs

Issue Position

As a practicing CPA, I have the unique insight of dealing with businesses and their owners every day. I see the sometimes daunting hurdles they face in order to be successful. A lot of those hurdles have been needlessly erected by government. We've made progress in reducing Florida's tax and regulatory burden on small businesses in the past few years.

But there is more work to do.

I want to continue to make Florida one of the best places to grow a business. We need an ongoing, protected atmosphere where job creators and job workers can become better providers for their families.

This means continuing to ratchet down taxes and spending. Because without proactive efforts to control spending and keep taxes low, both will inexorably rise. We see this all the time. I have the vision, experience and fortitude to make sure we keep that from happening and keep the tax burden light.

By reducing taxes, spurring the economy and controlling spending, we have been able to pay down the state debt and create such a strong balance sheet that for the first time in the history of Florida, all three rating agencies now have Florida's General Obligation bond rating at AAA. This responsible fiscal policy will save taxpayers money in future state interest payments.

But taxes are only part of the equation. Small businesses can get crushed in the regulatory machinery before they can even get off the ground. A minimal amount of regulation is required, but like taxes, it must be a light touch, not something that grinds businesses down and hurts the economy, employees and wages. I will always fight to keep regulations at an appropriately light level.

I also was Co-Chair of the Economy, Jobs and Debt Subcommittee at the Republican National Convention, helping craft our official stance on the economy and middle-class job growth, which ultimately culminated in the tax reform package that is now law thanks to Congress and President Trump.

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