Rail decision shows Scott's a different kind of governor

Yep, he's different all right.

When Gov. Rick Scott unilaterally rejected a huge federal grant for a Tampa-to-Orlando high-speed rail link Wednesday, overturning a year of planning and hoping by dozens of local, state and federal government officials, including much of his own party - well, he was just being Rick Scott, say supporters and opponents.

Floridians can expect more of the same.

"He's very consistent," said Republican state Rep. Mike Weinstein of Jacksonville, among the few mainstream Republicans who backed Scott in last year's primary against Bill McCollum.

"Rick Scott will be probably like no other governor we've had."

For the second or third time since taking office - or maybe the fifth or sixth, - Scott's rail decision showed his disregard for normal political give and take in Tallahassee.

Since being elected, he has:

•Startled the governing establishment by announcing his budget proposal at a Tea Party rally in Eustis, instead of the traditional presentation before legislators and the press in the Capitol.

While he was at it, he tossed barbs at the two other most powerful state officials - the House speaker and Senate president, fellow Republicans -- for saying his tax cut proposals might not be workable.

Normally, if they're in the same party, those officials maintain a façade of unity and agreement.

•Told his staff members to boycott the Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations subcommittee chaired by Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, because Fasano had pointedly questioned a staffer in a meeting. Fasano called the snub "childish" and "absolutely unprecedented" in the decorous confines of the Capitol.

•Buzzed around the state in his private plane while telling Cabinet members and legislative leaders, who normally made heavy use of the two state planes, that he's selling the aircraft and they should find their own transportation.

•Revived the tradition of an industry-funded black-tie inaugural ball, despite criticism that it was inappropriate with hundreds of thousands of Floridians unemployed.

•Installed his private lawyer, a non-Floridian, as his chief transition adviser.

•Shrugged off whining about lack of access by the Tallahassee press corps, usually the linchpin of Governor's Office communication with the public - a fitting move for the first major statewide candidate in recent memory to refuse endorsement interviews with newspaper editorial boards.

Oh, and by the way, he announced to a gathering of the press corps shortly after taking office, he doesn't read newspapers.

"He said he was going to run and govern as an outsider and it wasn't going to be business as usual in Tallahassee, and clearly that's the case," said University of Central Florida political scientist Aubrey Jewett.

"He does not have much experience in Florida politics and policy, nor does he know the history. He either doesn't grasp what's come before or he doesn't care," Jewett said. "That can be a strength or a weakness."

As a former business head, Jewett said, Scott is out of his customary environment and is trying to change the environment rather than adapting himself.

"The political environment's a lot different from the business world," he said. "As a CEO, you basically have unlimited power, but as governor there are limits."

Democratic state Rep. Rick Kriseman of St. Petersburg reacted Wednesday by introducing legislation to allow Floridians to recall state officials.

Even among Scott's own party, reactions to his leadership style vary.

Fasano said Scott and his staff "have a lot to learn." If they avoid legislative committees, he said, "How in the world can they be part of the budget process?"

But Weinstein, a Tea Party sympathizer, said Scott's style comes from his history as a self-made man.

"He doesn't owe anything to anybody. ... He has no inhibitions."

That could be a problem, he said, "If you were king. But the governor is surrounded by checks and balances," including the Legislature.

"He'll get checked and balanced a lot, but he'll take us further and quicker than anyone has."

He said Scott's style may moderate with time, - "You begin to develop parameters and limitations, but he's pretty unique."

Lobbyist and veteran GOP fundraiser Brian Ballard said Scott is "a decisive leader" who "doesn't really care what the short-term public reaction or political reaction will be."

Over time, he said, "People will learn to respect you if they think you're looking out for their pocketbooks," but meanwhile, Scott has "a pretty thick skin."

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