The war of words between Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) continues as Scott responds to the latest political barb Cuomo through at him over their ongoing "bailout brawl."
“Governor Cuomo used his daily briefing as an opportunity to attack me to distract from the fact that he wants his state bailed out by Florida taxpayers,” stated Sen. Scott, adding “It’s irresponsible and reckless to take money from American taxpayers and use it to save liberal politicians like Cuomo from the consequences of their poor choices," he added. "Floridians shouldn’t have to backfill New York’s state budget and pension fund.”
Scott continued, saying that “Florida has made the tough choices that New York has refused to make for decades and can get through this crisis without a bailout.”
How did this all start?
Scott threw the first salvo after penning an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal ripping states like New York who make bad fiscal decisions, which obviously put Cuomo’s leadership and governing in question.
Cuomo had no choice but to defend himself.
“New York state bails you out every year,” Cuomo said during his Wednesday press conference. “We bail them out every year … $29 million more every year into the federal pot that we don’t get back.”
“How long are you going to play the American people and assume they’re stupid? They are not. And they can add. And they know facts,” Cuomo continued.
During his Thursday press conference, Cuomo once again questioned Scott.
“Senator Scott, Florida. You are going to bail us out? You take out $30 billion more every year than you pay in,” stated Cuomo.
But prior to Cuomo’s Thursday Coronavirus presser, Sen. Scott offered Americans a nuts and bolts fiscal assessment/ comparison between New York and Florida.
“Florida has made the tough choices that New York has refused to make for decades and can get through this crisis without a bailout. ”- Sen. Rick Scott
This graphic Scott furnished served as a gut check for Cuomo. Talk about taking a swift roundhouse kick to the midsection and absorbing a follow up spinning elbow to the head.
Remember, Scott is the architect of Florida's massive economy, and jobs boom when he governed the state for the 8 years prior to going to Washington.
While New Yorkers fled their state for Florida, you didn’t see many (if any) Floridians tripping over themselves to drive north to pay more taxes.
Scott wins this fight, Cuomo loses.
