Rick Scott backs off ‘poorly worded’ tax hike plan after criticism from both parties

Sen. Rick Scott on Thursday backed off a controversial proposal to raise taxes on many Americans, after months of intense criticism from Democrats — and some Republicans — that it would financially harm low-income people and was politically unwise ahead of this year’s midterm election.

In February, the Florida Republican unveiled a multi-pronged agenda that included the declaration that “all Americans should pay some income tax to have skin in the game, even if a small amount.” Scott’s “Rescue America” plan also noted that “currently over half of Americans pay no income tax.”

Scott, who helms the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, stood by the language for months, denying that he’d proposed a tax increase even as Republicans distanced themselves from his plan and President Joe Biden sought to make it a campaign issue ahead of the November elections. Just two days earlier, on Tuesday, the senator had issued a video saying he would not apologize for his policy platform despite the criticism.

But in a video released Thursday, the senator said that he heard from many people asking him to clarify the proposal and acknowledged he could have explained it more clearly — while still asserting that he never proposed a tax hike.

“One of the 20 planks in this plan was poorly worded and enabled the establishment from both parties in Washington to twist it into campaign-style attack fodder,” Scott said. “So I’m changing that plank to clearly state my intention.”

Rather than raising taxes, he added, he wants to encourage all “able-bodied Americans under 60” to work.

“We need them pulling the wagon and paying taxes, not sitting at home, taking money from the government,” Scott said. “Currently, far too many Americans who can work are living off the hard work of others. Hopefully that’s clear.”

In an updated section of his policy agenda, which he now calls “Rescue America 2.0,” Scott said a series of tax cuts signed into law by former President Donald Trump should be made permanent, while also proposing that any future federal tax or fee increase require two-thirds support of all lawmakers in both the House and Senate.

Scott’s backtracking is unlikely to silence Democrats, who have worked diligently to tie his tax plan to GOP candidates across the country.

“Rick Scott has helpfully put Senate Republicans’ plan to raise taxes on paper, and told the world 24 hours ago he would apologize to no one for it,” said Nora Keefe, spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, in a statement. “He has saddled GOP Senate candidates with this toxic agenda — and it will lead their campaigns to defeat in November.”

A White House official disputed that Scott had backed away from his proposal at all.

“Senator Scott is trying to change his words, but he can’t take back the fact that his only concrete plan would raise taxes on working families by an average of $1,500,” said Emilie Simons, a White House spokeswoman. “If he made a mistake, he should say so rather than saying there was ‘confusion’ and releasing a vague attempt at a clarification.

“If he has a new plan, he should put out the specifics of whose taxes would go up and by how much,” the spokeswoman added. “We would welcome a public debate on the specifics.”

The video marks a setback for Scott, who for months defiantly insisted that Republicans needed to outline a detailed policy agenda to win over voters while declining to back away from any of his specific proposals.

Even Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Scott’s plan, stating publicly that no Republican majority in Congress next year would raise taxes of any kind.

The former governor’s proposal was especially controversial within the GOP because Scott is chairman of the influential National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is tasked with helping Republican Senate candidates win elections.

The leadership position gave Scott’s agenda more visibility and gave Democrats a greater opening to argue that he spoke for the entire party, though Scott said the policy agenda was his and his alone.

This story was originally published June 9, 2022 at 11:54 AM.