Spat Between California, Florida Governors Continues

As Florida Gov. Rick Scott's mission to entice California businesses to pull up stakes and move to the Sunshine State continues, Gov. Jerry Brown isn’t letting recent slams go unanswered.

Brown fired off a letter to Scott on Monday to welcome him back to California, “a state that in the last year has added more jobs than Florida and Texas combined.”

“Rick, a fact you’d like to ignore: California is the 7th largest economic power in the world,” Brown’s letter said. “We’re competing with nations like Brazil and France, not states like Florida.”

The brouhaha between the two governors began last week when Scott’s office announced the launch of a radio campaign in Los Angeles and San Francisco. That campaign’s aim was to warm California business owners to the idea of relocating to Florida in advance of the Golden State’s impending move to a $15 minimum wage. It also advanced Scott’s arrival in California for this week’s Milken Institute Global Conference. Scott intends to talk about how Florida “is making it easier for families and job creators to succeed,” an announcement of the planned mission posted on Scott’s website stated.

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“Last year, we met with companies in California to tell them why Florida is the best location to grow their business, and it is clear that has not changed,” Scott said in a statement. “In fact, Governor (Jerry) Brown’s tax and spend administration has spent the past year passing laws that make it even harder for businesses to succeed.”

Scott takes issue with California’s intent to hike its minimum wage to $15.

“California elected officials even chose to ignore concerns that the new minimum wage could eventually cost almost 700,000 jobs and an additional $3.6 billion a year for taxpayers,” Scott’s statement noted.

Brown, it seems, takes issue with Scott’s handling of climate change. Brown contends Florida may not have an economy to worry about if the state doesn't get serious about addressing climate change concerns.

“If you’re truly serious about Florida’s economic well-being, it’s time to stop the silly political stunts and start doing something about climate change – two words you won’t even let state officials say,” Brown’s Monday letter said. “The threat is real and so too will be the devastating impacts.”

Brown went on to quote a report authored by the Risky Business Project that says:

Florida faces more risk than any other state that private, insurable property could be inundated by high tide, storm surge and sea level rise. By 2030 up to $69 billion in coastal property will likely be at risk of inundation at high tide that is not at risk today. By 2050, the value of property below local high tide levels will increase to up to about $152 billion.

Brown closed his letter to Scott by advising him against sticking his “head in the sand.”

Scott had yet to respond to Brown’s letter or tweets from the California Governor’s Office related to the letter.

Photo of Rick Scott courtesy of the Rick Scott Facebook page