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Governor Rick Scott got about two thirds of the tax cuts he wanted from lawmakers last year. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the Governor says this year, he’s upping the ante.

Floridians are buying more, drinking more and driving more. That means more cash for state government….an estimated 635 million more than last year.

But if the Governor has his way…all of it and more will be returned to taxpayers.

“My tax cut proposal this year will be bigger than my tax cut proposal last year. So and we should be able to do it. We’re growing revenue, we’re paying down debt” says the Governor.

Here’s one of the problems…the new revenue for the state is less than the total cuts he wanted last year. And if he is asking for even more, some programs will have to be cut. When asked Scott declined specifics.

“I think we’re going to have a good session” responded Scott.

When the tax cuts passed last year…the Governor and everyone in the legislature  claimed victory, even though Scott only got about sixty percent of what he wanted.

This year, the Senate has already said only about 250 million should be available for cuts…that sets up another battle. Senate President Andy Gardiner says the ultimate decision is up to Senators.

“Well, we’ve laid out a starting point and we’ll kind of wait and see what the members want to do. It could go higher or lower. Again, you’ve covered this, once you start building a budget and you meet your priorities, they you are able to determine, could you do more” Gardiner told reporters.

While Scott hasn’t released details yet, the cuts he’s  pushed publicly would all benefit businesses…which Scott says will create jobs for average Floridians.

A quarter million people have moved to Florida in the last year…putting more pressure on schools, roads and everything else, which means there will be plenty of competition for the new money.