TBO: Scott's Lack of Business Appeal

[danem]

Editorial suggests that Rick Scott's agenda is not going to necessarily make businesses want to relocate to Florida. It starts with examining the results of the drive to make Florida more "business friendly":

So far, the results have been modest. A few mid-size relocations have been announced with great fanfare, but virtually all were in the works before Scott became governor. There is no questioning the governor's determination to lure companies, but many in the business world believe that Scott, despite his corporate background, may be doing more harm than good.

Corporations are not likely to commit to a state that is in upheaval â€" as Florida seems to be as Scott seeks to eliminate longstanding policies with little thought about the consequences.

"One thing valued by senior management who are seeking to grow a company is stability," a veteran site-selection consultant, who now is cautious about recommending Florida to clients, told us. "They are extremely uncomfortable with radical change."

http://www2.tbo.com/news/opinion/2011/jul/15/meopino1-scotts-lack-of-business-appeal-ar-243940/

[manasia]

This article makes some good points especially this one:

"Scott is confident that cuts in the corporate tax rate will bolster the state's appeal. It's true, tax expenses are always a factor in corporate decisions. But Florida's taxes are already low. Further reductions are not going to change the relocation equation much for most businesses. (And those that care solely about having the lowest tax rates are unlikely to have much commitment to the state.)"

You need more that tax breaks to lure mega businesses.