Gov. Charlie Crist said he would help create jobs this year by pushing a corporate income tax cut, bringing back a sales tax holiday for back-to-school shoppers and cutting “red tape” for business permits and regulation.

“Most of what we will focus on this session will be related to the economy, to jobs,” Crist said.

Crist wants to reduce the corporate income tax by 1 percent on the first $1 million in a company’s profits. He said his proposal would affect 35,000 businesses in the state.

Noting 1 million Floridians were out of work, Crist said, “We have to do everything we possibly can to make sure more of them gain employment. I think this will help.”

Crist ran through a list of accomplishments, including the state’s Everglades land purchase and retaining Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach, and said he would “probably” veto another bill that deregulates property insurance companies in Florida.

Crist briefly touched on his U.S. Senate Republican primary during a Q-and-A session.

Asked whether he could win as an independent candidate, Crist said, “We’ll never know.” Asked if he would seek an endorsement from former Gov. Jeb Bush, he said: “I’ll ask the people for their endorsement.”

Tags: Charlie Crist

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