Florida Governor Trumpets Expansion at Omni Amelia Island Plantation

Rick Scott means business in his new role as Florida governor — much more so than any of his predecessors.

Scott has the most business experience (and the least political experience) of any Florida governor in memory. Scott, who founded and pioneered hospital corporation Columbia/HCA, is truly employing a private-sector approach in his public-sector duties.

His message is simple, yet effective.

Florida can no longer afford a state government “that runs wild with taxes, regulations and excessive spending,” Scott says. At least not while 1.1 million Floridians are out of work.

In response, he favors a budget that is “lean” and reduces state spending, pares taxes for residents and businesses, and reforms onerous regulations that have “stunted economic growth.” And, all the while, hold government accountable to the people.

In doing so, Scott has alienated some major unions and political organizations. But he believes he will be vindicated when the economy improves — and then attracts jobs and industries to a fertile business climate.

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Scott came to Amelia Island last week to trumpet the Omni’s expansion plans at Amelia Island Plantation. The $85 million project will enhance many of the Plantation’s amenities, including a grander beachfront hotel that will carry the Omni Hotels & Resorts name.

The project will create jobs, tax revenues, and a feeling of prosperity for Nassau County. It is encouraging when billionaire businessman and Omni owner, Robert Rowling, invests in your area, despite a distorted economic picture.

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It makes you feel that there is hope, even with a 9 percent national unemployment rate, a $14 trillion deficit, sluggish national growth, and chaos in Washington, D.C. Scott knows this the prescribed medicine that the entire state — including cities and counties — needs to ingest.

Like swallowing cough syrup when you have a cold, it is not easy. But a growing, thriving private sector is the cure for what ails us here.

It is a formula to bring in jobs, improve the economy, and enliven the real estate market. A big government sector is an irrefutable path to decay and failure. Look across the pond at Greece.

A remedy for this condition is a big, thriving business sector — that will feed big-time prosperity.