Florida governor Rick Scott is calling on state lawmakers to focus funding when it comes to education, saying the state does not need additional anthropologists.
“How many more jobs you think there is for anthropology in this state?” Mr. Scott said Tuesday. “You want to use your tax dollars to educate more people who can’t get jobs in anthropology?”
Mr. Scott made the comment during his unveiling the first part of his 2012 legislative agenda in Orlando this week. The Florida Republican said his administration remains focused on creating jobs, adding that state lawmakers must prioritize funding for degrees leading to future employment.
Speaking Tuesday, Mr. Scott said he hopes to come out with plans to create incentives for students to graduate with degrees in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“Are we telling these kids where the jobs are?” the Florida Republican said. “Are we giving them incentives to go spend four years and borrow a lot of money for jobs that aren’t there?”
Mr. Scott also said tax cuts are needed to help stimulate job growth in Florida and create more money to pay for safety-net programs. The Florida Republican said state dollars must be put to use and show a return.
“We have a $69 billion state budget. If those were business dollars, we’d say ‘I’m going to put those dollars where we get the best return,’” Mr. Scott said. “My job is to take the $69 billion we have in the state budget, and allocate them the best way possible.”
