Welcome to

On the campaign trail, then-candidate Rick Scott repeatedly made a pledge: he would create 7000,000 new jobs…on top of normal economic growth. He confirmed that number in this debate:

“So our plan is seven steps to 700,000 jobs. And that plan is on top of what normal growth would be.”

To be clear, let’s play that again so there is no misunderstanding.

“So our plan is seven steps to 700,000 jobs. And that plan is on top of what normal growth would be.”

But now Governor Scott is not only backing away from that statement, he’s saying it was never the plan.

Reporter: Your plan was to create 700,000 on top of normal growth.

“No, let’s remember the facts,” Scott answered.

But here in this email from Scott’s Communications director, post-election, the same pledge is made.

700,000 jobs “over and above any natural expansion in the economy.”

While the promise may have help Scott win the election, he’s now done the math, and fulfilling that pledge would be almost unattainable.

“We have 900,000 people out of work, so I can’t do a lot more than 700,000.”

And there is this new email from the communications director: “Jobs forecasts come and go. What will remain constant from Governor Scott is his commitment to create at least 700,000 new jobs in seven years.”

Scott is currently courting the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The Exchange is moving two thousand jobs out of Chicago and has narrowed its choices to Texas and Florida.