‘Business-minded’ Dem Sink unveils jobs, economy proposals in West Palm Beach
by George Bennett | March 17th, 2010
Sink talks with Business Development Board members. Photo by Damon Higgins.
Sink, who is Florida’s chief financial officer, kicked off a two-month “Business Plan for Florida” tour at the Business Development Board headquarters here. (Click here to see a copy of Sink’s plan.)
Sink’s proposals include creating a small-business ombudsman in the governor’s office, allowing start-up companies to defer state taxes for three years, giving tax credits to businesses that create new jobs and favoring Florida businesses in state contracts.
She said Florida needs to boost research and development incentives and partnerships between its universities and businesses to encourage biotechnology and other businesses that would diversify the state’s economy for the long term beyond its traditional base of tourism, agriculture and construction.
But Sink also pledged in the short term to more aggressively market Florida’s bedrock tourism industry by promoting the state nationally and globally, particularly in China and emerging markets.
Sink’s likely Republican opponent, Attorney General Bill McCollum, has also pledged to lower taxes and reduce regulation and diversify the state’s economy.
Asked to differentiate herself from McCollum, Sink highlighted her resume, which includes being president of Florida operations for Bank of America. She did not run for public office until her 2006 campaign for state CFO.
“I have 30 years of business experience. I’ve run businesses. I’ve helped create tens of thousands of jobs throughout our state during that business career. I talk the language of business,” Sink said.
“You’re not going to need on-the-job training with Alex Sink as you’re governor when it comes to recruiting businesses to the state of Florida.”
In her meeting with about a dozen business representatives this morning, Sink pledged to be a “business-minded governor” who would “bring a businessperson’s mentality to the governor’s office.”
Sink plans similar business-related campaign stops over the next two months, including visits next week to Fort Myers, Miami and Ocala.
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March 17th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Alex McBride Sink, whose husband ALSO ran for the governorship, was a banker and is the treasurer of the Florida pension plans which LOST BILLIONS!
Some counties were ahead of Sink and withdrew their money. Sink will sink Florida.
She will acquiese to Cap and Trade (tax) a job killer. Alex will sign on to federal government demands and hamstring the state. She will raise taxes, implement a Mobility Tax, that will increase your costs to travel.
Sink=democrats=taxing=restricted freedoms
Alex Sink will sign on to ALL Obama’s plans. Ask Alex about OBama’s EPA director, Lisa Jackson, and what Lisa wants to do to Floridians.
SINK=TAXES=RESTRICTIONS on your freedoms.
She is about seeking power, as illustrated by the family continually seeking higher office. She is not for the people.
NO to SINK. Sink, SINK!
March 17th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
SHES A CROOK!
March 17th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
You would think, as the Elected Officer who oversees Insurance Fraud in the State of Florida, she would have a position on the Health Care Legislation. But no, not Alex. Beware voters, she is cherry picking issues, not making hard policy recommendations. She is not ready for prime-time.
Vote her home to be with her wife, Bill.
March 17th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Clearly none of the above posters have read her “plan”. Other than being a nice reference of existing economic conditions it contains no concrete proposals for solutions and besides being a bloated document detailing her resume and personality offers nothing in the way of substance. A rather fluffy piece drafted by only the most well-paid of PR consultants. I expect nothing more from Bill McCollum.
March 18th, 2010 at 6:37 am
Sink, Sink.
She ran a bank into the ground, has no firm opinion on issues and is not for business but government control of business. If she were truly for job creation, the tax cuts would be without strings. Sink, Sink.
March 18th, 2010 at 8:27 am
First of all Alex Sink hasn’t even won the Primaries as yet, however it seems she has gotten a ton of money to run her campaign … hmmm. I wonder where all that came from, I would think it wold be hard for a banker to get their hands on money in this economy, especially if she used to run Bank Of America.
As for her so-called “business plan”, my five year old could have written that. Haven’t we heard the same plans by every politician that has ever run for office? Only thing she seems to be good at is getting $1000.+ checks for her campaign and following instructions.
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