Duval Times

Last month, voters expressed strong support for the American dream by electing Donald Trump and Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress. This outcome is seen as a rejection of policies from the past four years that many believe have negatively impacted full-time jobs and economic opportunities.

Senator Rick Scott highlighted the need for Republicans to focus on reducing government size, cutting taxes, eliminating regulations, and shortening permitting times to boost private-sector job growth. He cited data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing significant losses in full-time jobs over the past year, with an increase in part-time work and multiple jobholders under the Biden-Harris administration.

Scott criticized President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Democrats for relying too heavily on welfare systems instead of promoting private-sector job creation. He argued that federal welfare payments were increased during the pandemic to levels where they could exceed earnings from employment. Work requirements for food stamps and Medicaid were also paused or ended.

The senator pointed out that millions of able-bodied adults without dependents are enrolled in food stamps or receiving taxpayer-funded health benefits without working. At the same time, there are over 7 million open jobs reported by employers across America.

President-elect Donald Trump has indicated plans to cut taxes and reduce regulatory burdens imposed during Biden's term. Senator Scott called for collaboration between Congress and Trump to eliminate waivers used by states to bypass food-stamp work requirements.

Scott introduced the "Let’s Get to Work Act," aiming to end work exemptions permanently and expand work requirements for food stamps to able-bodied adults under 59 without young children. The bill would also apply these requirements to public housing recipients.

He noted Florida's success with implementing work requirements for food stamps in 2016, which led to a substantial decrease in program participants who then re-entered the workforce across various industries. Other states have reported similar progress when attaching work conditions to Medicaid programs.

Scott emphasized that universal work requirements could save taxpayers up to $1.5 trillion over ten years while addressing federal spending issues by reducing welfare payments and increasing tax revenue through higher employment rates.

Rick Scott serves as a senator for Florida and was previously its governor.