Having left Tallahassee and taking his seat on Capitol Hill last week, new U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., weighed in on his first impressions of Washington, D.C. and, despite Republicans controlling the Senate, the newest member is not that impressed.
With the partial federal shutdown wrapping up its third week, Scott ripped into what he is seeing in Washington on Friday.
“I’ve been a member of the United States Senate for three days, and it’s as dysfunctional as you think it is – probably even more dysfunctional. The vast majority in Congress say they want border security. The vast majority also say they want to open the government. So, of course, they won’t do either,” Scott said.
“The people of Florida deserve a government that functions,” Scott added. “Period. And until that happens, Congress shouldn’t get paid. I believe members’ pay must be furloughed immediately as long as Americans aren’t getting government services. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make this happen as soon as possible. I campaigned on making government work and it’s clearer now more than ever that it will be an uphill climb. But I’m committed to fighting for the values of my state and the interests of the people of Florida and I won’t back down.”
Scott is wealthy from his career in business before being elected governor back in 2010 and his office noted the senator “will be donating his salary for his entire term.”
Ending his tenure in Tallahassee on Tuesday, Scott was sworn in as the most junior member of the Senate later that day.
Kevin Derby can be reached at Kevin.Derby@floridadaily.com.
