10-25-2010, 01:55 AM
For governor, The Miami Herald recommends Alex Sink
Miami Herald | Link to article
Voters who believe elections should be decided on merit have a clear choice in the race for governor. Democrat Alex Sink, the state’s chief financial officer, stands head and shoulders above Republican Rick Scott in terms of experience, familiarity with issues, and responsiveness to the public.
Mr. Scott, 57, has spent a record $60 million of his own money to promote his candidacy, but the more voters know about him, the more questions there are. He calls himself an outsider whose business savvy will bring efficiency to state government, but it would be a disaster for Florida if he ran the state like he ran Columbia/HCA.
The hospital chain wound up paying $1.7 billion in a massive Medicare fraud scheme that occurred when he was chief executive. He was never charged with wrongdoing, but he walked away with a golden parachute reportedly worth $310 million.
Too bad. Florida could use a more rigorous approach to governing, with fewer insider deals and boondoggles like the $47 million "Taj Mahal’’ building for the First District Court of Appeal. Mr. Scott’s record inspires little confidence, and he fails to mention that most of the problems he points to have arisen under his own party’s watch in Tallahassee.
Ms. Sink, 62, also has an extensive business background, thankfully free of scandal. She served as chief executive of NationsBank Florida, now Bank of America, where she worked for 26 years. She has a plan to nurture small business, foster a tax and regulatory climate that encourages private-sector growth and reward job creators with tax breaks.
Unlike Mr. Scott, who tends to be evasive and vague on details, she is well-versed on the issues. His TV ads often stretch the truth, as when he says Ms. Sink is solely responsible for the drop in the state pension fund. In fact, she is one of three trustees, the other two are Republicans. Despite Mr. Scott’s claims to the contrary, the pension fund is rated among the strongest in the country.
Mr. Scott once told reporters that "the stimulus has not created one private sector job," a statement that Politifact Florida rated as a "pants on fire’’ whopper.
On windstorm insurance, a critical issue to South Florida, Mr. Scott wants to make rates "actuarially sound," which practically every expert believes would lead to a steep rise in premiums. Mr. Scott blithely dismisses such concerns without any real explanation.
CFO Sink says she has been successful in persuading major insurance companies from pulling out of Florida. Mr. Scott complains that Citizens, the state-backed agency, has become the ‘‘insurer of first resort," but Ms. Sink accurately notes that for tens of thousands of homeowners who have been redlined out of the market, it’s the only option.
In last week’s televised debate, Mr. Scott tried blaming Ms. Sink for just about everything that is wrong not only in Florida, but in Washington, as well. "She’s had her shot," he declared. That doesn’t pass the most elementary factual test, and neither does his attempt to brand her as a Tallahassee insider -- no matter how often his TV ads repeat it.
Ms. Sink has been the top Democrat in a state government dominated by the GOP. She has played a key role on issues requiring the CFO’s direction -- from trying to get rid of fraud in the field of annuities for retirees to the distressed housing market, where she has initiated programs to aid and counsel troubled homeowners -- but the other party has been in the driver’s seat.
Just as divided government -- requiring bipartisan consensus to approve meaningful legislation -- would benefit Washington, it should prove politically healthy in the state capital. The choice comes down to a smart, competent and conscientious public official with a good track record and a one-time business executive with a worrisome record. For governor, The Miami Herald recommends ALEX SINK.
Miami Herald | Link to article
Voters who believe elections should be decided on merit have a clear choice in the race for governor. Democrat Alex Sink, the state’s chief financial officer, stands head and shoulders above Republican Rick Scott in terms of experience, familiarity with issues, and responsiveness to the public.
Mr. Scott, 57, has spent a record $60 million of his own money to promote his candidacy, but the more voters know about him, the more questions there are. He calls himself an outsider whose business savvy will bring efficiency to state government, but it would be a disaster for Florida if he ran the state like he ran Columbia/HCA.
The hospital chain wound up paying $1.7 billion in a massive Medicare fraud scheme that occurred when he was chief executive. He was never charged with wrongdoing, but he walked away with a golden parachute reportedly worth $310 million.
Too bad. Florida could use a more rigorous approach to governing, with fewer insider deals and boondoggles like the $47 million "Taj Mahal’’ building for the First District Court of Appeal. Mr. Scott’s record inspires little confidence, and he fails to mention that most of the problems he points to have arisen under his own party’s watch in Tallahassee.
Ms. Sink, 62, also has an extensive business background, thankfully free of scandal. She served as chief executive of NationsBank Florida, now Bank of America, where she worked for 26 years. She has a plan to nurture small business, foster a tax and regulatory climate that encourages private-sector growth and reward job creators with tax breaks.
Unlike Mr. Scott, who tends to be evasive and vague on details, she is well-versed on the issues. His TV ads often stretch the truth, as when he says Ms. Sink is solely responsible for the drop in the state pension fund. In fact, she is one of three trustees, the other two are Republicans. Despite Mr. Scott’s claims to the contrary, the pension fund is rated among the strongest in the country.
Mr. Scott once told reporters that "the stimulus has not created one private sector job," a statement that Politifact Florida rated as a "pants on fire’’ whopper.
On windstorm insurance, a critical issue to South Florida, Mr. Scott wants to make rates "actuarially sound," which practically every expert believes would lead to a steep rise in premiums. Mr. Scott blithely dismisses such concerns without any real explanation.
CFO Sink says she has been successful in persuading major insurance companies from pulling out of Florida. Mr. Scott complains that Citizens, the state-backed agency, has become the ‘‘insurer of first resort," but Ms. Sink accurately notes that for tens of thousands of homeowners who have been redlined out of the market, it’s the only option.
In last week’s televised debate, Mr. Scott tried blaming Ms. Sink for just about everything that is wrong not only in Florida, but in Washington, as well. "She’s had her shot," he declared. That doesn’t pass the most elementary factual test, and neither does his attempt to brand her as a Tallahassee insider -- no matter how often his TV ads repeat it.
Ms. Sink has been the top Democrat in a state government dominated by the GOP. She has played a key role on issues requiring the CFO’s direction -- from trying to get rid of fraud in the field of annuities for retirees to the distressed housing market, where she has initiated programs to aid and counsel troubled homeowners -- but the other party has been in the driver’s seat.
Just as divided government -- requiring bipartisan consensus to approve meaningful legislation -- would benefit Washington, it should prove politically healthy in the state capital. The choice comes down to a smart, competent and conscientious public official with a good track record and a one-time business executive with a worrisome record. For governor, The Miami Herald recommends ALEX SINK.