View source for Rick Scott

{{Short description|American politician (born 1952)}}
{{About|the American politician and businessman|other people with similar names|Richard Scott (disambiguation)}}
{{pp-semi-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{pp-pc}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Rick Scott
| image               = Official Portrait of Senator Rick Scott (R-FL).jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2019
| office              = Chair of the [[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Senate Aging Committee]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2025
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[Bob Casey Jr.]]
| successor           = 
| office1             = Chair of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]]
| leader1             = [[Mitch McConnell]]
| term_start1         = January 3, 2021
| term_end1           = January 3, 2023
| predecessor1        = [[Todd Young]]
| successor1          = [[Steve Daines]]
| jr/sr2              = United States Senator
| state2              = [[Florida]]
| alongside2          = [[Ashley Moody]]
| term_start2         = January 8, 2019
| term_end2           = 
| predecessor2        = [[Bill Nelson]]
| successor2          = 
| order3              = 45th [[Governor of Florida]]
| lieutenant3         = [[Jennifer Carroll]] (2011–2013)<br/>''Vacant'' (2013–2014)<br/>[[Carlos Lopez-Cantera]] (2014–2019)
| term_start3         = January 4, 2011
| term_end3           = January 7, 2019
| predecessor3        = [[Charlie Crist]]
| successor3          = [[Ron DeSantis]]
| birth_name          = Richard Lynn Myers
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1952|12|01}}
| birth_place         = [[Bloomington, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Ann Holland]]|April 20, 1972}}
| children            = 2
| education           = {{ubl |[[University of Missouri–Kansas City]] ([[Bachelor of Business Administration|BBA]]) |[[Southern Methodist University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])}}
| residence           = [[Naples, Florida]], U.S.
| signature           = Richard Scott signature.svg
| website             = {{url|rickscott.senate.gov|Senate website}}
| allegiance          = United States 
| branch              = [[United States Navy]]
| serviceyears        = {{circa|1971–1974}}<ref name=":24" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/rep_bios.php?rep_id=66955326 |title=Summary of Information on Rick Scott |publisher=Thepoliticalguide.com |access-date=May 30, 2011 |archive-date=August 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811201419/http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/rep_bios.php?rep_id=66955326|url-status=usurped}}</ref><!-- Rick's wife says in the Gulfshore Life article that they were stationed in the Navy for 15 months after their wedding in April 1972. That implies a discharge date of August 1973 -->
| rank                = [[Petty officer third class]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2010/09/oh-if-only-florida-had-a-governor-who-liked-business-people.html |title=Oh, if only Florida had a governor who liked businesspeople |publisher=Blogs.orlandosentinel.com |access-date=May 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104024550/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2010/09/oh-if-only-florida-had-a-governor-who-liked-business-people.html |archive-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>
| unit                = {{USS|Glover|FF-1098}}
|module      = {{Listen
|pos         = center
|embed       = yes
|filename    = Rick Scott on his opposition to student debt cancelation.ogg
|title       = Scott's voice
|type        = speech
|description = Scott opposing [[student debt]] relief<br/>Recorded September 14, 2022}}
}}
{{Rick Scott series}}

'''Richard Lynn Scott''' ({{né}} '''Myers'''; born December 1, 1952) is an American attorney, businessman, politician, and [[United States Navy|Navy]] veteran serving as the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|senior]] [[United States senator]] from [[Florida]], a seat he has held since 2019.{{efn|Because Ron DeSantis and Jeannette Núñez took their oaths of office ahead of time, they became governor and lieutenant governor at midnight on January 8, rather than waiting for the inaugural ceremony. Thus, Scott's and Lopez-Cantera's terms ended at the end of January 7.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/01/05/desantis-already-governor-when-ceremony-begins |title=DeSantis already governor when ceremony begins |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |date=January 5, 2019 |access-date=January 9, 2019}}</ref>}}<ref name=jan8oath>{{cite web|url=https://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/rick-scott-sworn-in-as-florida-s-newest-us-senator|title=Rick Scott sworn in as Florida's newest U.S. senator|date=January 8, 2019|website=WJXT}}</ref><ref name="swearing in delay">{{cite news|last=Greenwood|first=Max|date=December 4, 2018|title=Rick Scott delays Senate swearing-in ceremony|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/419690-rick-scott-will-delay-senate-swearing-in-ceremony-until-jan-8/|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=December 4, 2018}}</ref> A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he served two terms as the 45th [[governor of Florida]] from 2011 to 2019.

Scott is a graduate of the [[University of Missouri–Kansas City]] and the [[Dedman School of Law]] at [[Southern Methodist University]]. In 1987, after serving in the [[U.S. Navy]] and becoming a law firm partner, he co-founded [[Columbia Hospital Corporation]]. Columbia later merged with another corporation to form [[Columbia/HCA]], which eventually became the nation's largest for-profit health care company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://danielsethics.mgt.unm.edu/pdf/hca.pdf|title=Hospital Corporation of America: Learning from Past Mistakes?|publisher=Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative, University of New Mexico|access-date=September 9, 2016}}</ref> Scott was pressured to resign as chief executive of Columbia/HCA in 1997. During his tenure as chief executive, the company [[defraud]]ed Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal programs. The [[U.S. Department of Justice]] won 14 felony convictions against the company, which was fined $1.7 billion in what was at the time the largest healthcare fraud settlement in U.S. history.<ref name=":20">{{Cite news|url=http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2014/mar/03/florida-democratic-party/rick-scott-rick-scott-oversaw-largest-medicare-fra|title=Rick Scott 'oversaw the largest Medicare fraud' in U.S. history, Florida Democratic Party says|author=Sherman, Amy|work=Politifact|date=March 3, 2014|access-date=2018-04-19}}</ref><ref name="fungus">{{cite news|last1=Glorioso|first1=Alexandra|last2=Caputo|first2=Marc|title=Democrats: Medicare fraud is 'fungus' Scott will never get rid of|url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/08/30/democrats-medicare-fraud-is-fungus-scott-will-never-get-rid-of-573155|access-date=October 26, 2018|publisher=Politico|date=August 30, 2018}}</ref> Following his departure from Columbia/HCA, Scott became a venture capitalist and pursued other business interests.

Scott ran for governor of Florida [[2010 Florida gubernatorial election|in 2010]]. He defeated [[Bill McCollum]] in a vigorously contested Republican primary election, and then defeated [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee [[Alex Sink]] by just over one point in the general election.<ref name=Running>{{cite news|title=Health Care Figure Running for Florida Governor|first=Ben|last=Smith|date=April 13, 2010|access-date=February 24, 2016|work=[[Politico (newspaper)|Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2010/04/health-care-figure-running-for-florida-governor-026373}}</ref> Scott was reelected [[2014 Florida gubernatorial election|in 2014]], again by just over one point, against former governor [[Charlie Crist]]. He was barred by [[term limits]] from running for reelection [[2018 Florida gubernatorial election|in 2018]], and instead ran for the U.S. Senate.

Scott won the [[2018 United States Senate election in Florida|2018 U.S. Senate election]], defeating incumbent Democrat [[Bill Nelson]]. The initial election results were so close that they triggered a mandatory recount. The recount showed that Scott had won by 10,033 votes; Nelson then conceded the race. Scott took office following the expiration of his term as governor of Florida on January 8, 2019. He won reelection [[2024 United States Senate election in Florida|in 2024]], defeating Democratic nominee [[Debbie Mucarsel-Powell]] by over 12 points.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gans|first=Jared|date=November 5, 2024|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4962067-rick-scott-wins-reelection/|title=Scott wins Florida Senate race, fending off Democratic challenge|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=November 6, 2024}}</ref> [[Marco Rubio]]'s resignation to become [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] in the [[second cabinet of Donald Trump]] made Scott Florida's senior senator.

==Early life and education==
Rick Scott was born Richard Lynn Myers in [[Bloomington, Illinois]], on December 1, 1952. Scott never met his biological father, Gordon William Myers,<ref name="birth1">{{cite web |last=Smolenyak |first=Megan |date=September 17, 2018 |title=One Less Secret for Rick Scott |url=https://medium.com/@smolenyak/one-less-secret-for-rick-scott-255d29679a59 |access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> whom Scott's mother, Esther J. Scott, described as an abusive alcoholic. Scott's parents divorced in his infancy.<ref name=":26">{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Roger |date=July 9, 2014 |title=Rick Scott: A political outsider works hard to stay inside the governor's office |url=https://fortmyers.floridaweekly.com/articles/rick-scott/ |work=Florida Weekly -- Fort Meyer's Edition}}</ref>

In 1954, Esther married Orba George Scott Jr. (died 2006), a truck driver. Orba adopted Rick, who took his stepfather's surname and became known as Richard Lynn Scott.<ref name=":22">[http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/rick-scott-the-tv-image-well-known-rick-scott-the-man-is-not/1128342 "Rick Scott the TV image well known, Rick Scott the man is not"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430113447/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/rick-scott-the-tv-image-well-known-rick-scott-the-man-is-not/1128342 |date=April 30, 2013}}; accessed March 8, 2014.</ref> Scott was raised in [[North Kansas City, Missouri|North Kansas City]], [[Missouri]], the second of five children. His family was lower-middle-class and struggled financially; Esther Scott worked as a clerk at [[J.&nbsp;C.&nbsp;Penney]], among other jobs.<ref name="JBJ-17Apr06"/><ref name=":25">[http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Esther-Scott&lc=2376&pid=161069161&mid=5306412 Obituary for Esther Scott]; accessed March 8, 2014.</ref>

Scott graduated from [[North Kansas City High School]] in 1970.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://kchistory.org/document/north-kansas-city-high-school-yearbook-purgold-3 |title=Purgold: North Kansas City High School Yearbook 1970 |publisher=North Kansas City High School |year=1970 |editor-last=Cindy Richardson |editor-first=Dale McEowen |volume=XLIII |pages=130}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UM-System; President's Office; James C. Olson Papers; Speeches and related Materials |url=https://muarchives.missouri.edu/uw-rg4-s99.html |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=muarchives.missouri.edu |quote=FF 54 - North Kansas City High School Commencement Address, 5/28/1970}}</ref> He attended community college for a year,<ref name=":21">{{Cite news |date=November 16, 2016 |title=Missouri native now a national leader: Florida -- Rick Scott '75, Governor of Florida |url=https://perspectives.umkc.edu/florida/ |work=Perspectives: University of Missouri-Kansas City Alumni Magazine}}</ref> and then enlisted in the [[United States Navy]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Ben |title=Young Rick Scott recalled as driven, frugal, studious, focused |url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/young-rick-scott-recalled-as-driven-frugal-studious-focused/1129801 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607084743/http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/young-rick-scott-recalled-as-driven-frugal-studious-focused/1129801 |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=November 12, 2012 |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref> In 1972, he married [[Ann Scott (First Lady of Florida)|Ann Holland]], whom he met in high school,<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Zac |date=June 15, 2014 |title=Ann Scott hopes she can help husband get re-elected |url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2014/06/15/ann-scott-hopes-she-can/31866692007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130155231/https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2014/06/15/ann-scott-hopes-she-can/31866692007/ |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |work=The Gainesville Sun}}</ref> at a Baptist church in [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]].<ref name=":110">{{Cite news |last=Sanders |first=Katie |date=January 24, 2013 |title=Ann Scott: Florida's reluctant first lady |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article1946652.html |work=Miami Herald}}</ref> Scott had completed [[Military recruit training#U.S. Navy|naval bootcamp]] just before the wedding. Afterward, he was sent to a naval posting in [[Newport, Rhode Island]], where he and his wife lived for 15 months.<ref name=":24">{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=Betty |date=February 2014 |title=What You Don't Know About Ann Scott |url=https://www.gulfshorelife.com/February-2014/What-You-Dont-Know-About-Ann-Scott/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107110827/https://www.gulfshorelife.com/February-2014/What-You-Dont-Know-About-Ann-Scott/ |archive-date=November 7, 2014 |work=Gulfshore Life}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Kira |date=May 10, 2014 |title=A friendly first lady |url=https://www.news-press.com/story/life/2014/05/10/a-friendly-first-lady/8145945/ |work=News-Press |quote=I got married one day and moved 1,500 miles the next.}}</ref> He served there as a [[radarman]] on the {{USS|Glover|FF-1098}}, which during his enlistment spent time [[dry dock]]ed in [[Boston]] and sailed to ports in [[Bermuda]] and [[Puerto Rico]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kallestad |first=Brent |date=July 29, 2011 |title=Revamping vets Hall of Fame |url=https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/state/2011/07/29/revamping-vets-hall-fame/16199826007/ |work=St. Augustine Record}}</ref> Scott was in the Navy for 29 months, including training.<ref>{{cite news |author=Chrystal Hayes |date=October 13, 2018 |title=Florida Governor Rick Scott's Navy Hat Under Attack |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/10/13/florida-governor-rick-scott-navy-hat-attack-midterm-ad/1620149002/ |newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref name="Time25" />

After the Navy, Scott and his wife moved to Kansas City, where he attended college on the [[G.I. Bill]].<ref name=":24" /> He graduated in 1975 from the [[University of Missouri–Kansas City]] with a [[Bachelor of Business Administration|bachelor of business administration]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/umkclaw/islandora/object/umkclaw%3A24781#page/48/mode/2up |title=1975: Fortieth Annual Commencement |date=May 10, 1975 |publisher=University of Missouri, Kansas City |pages=45}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rick Scott's Biography |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/124204/rick-scott |publisher=vote smart}}</ref> He earned a [[Juris Doctor]] by working his way through [[Southern Methodist University]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |title=U.S. Senator Rick Scott was sworn in to the Senate in January 2019. |url=https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/biography |publisher=senate.gov}}</ref> The Texas Bar licensed him to practice law in 1978.<ref name="TXBAR">[http://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Advanced_Search&Template=/CustomSource/MemberDirectory/Result_form_client.cfm Profile], State Bar of Texas website; accessed June 7, 2014.</ref>

== Career ==
Scott made his first foray into business while working his way through college and law school, initially buying and reviving a failing doughnut shop (the Flavor Maid Do-Nut) by adding workplace delivery instead of relying on foot traffic. He later bought and revived another doughnut shop.<ref name=tbt>{{cite news|last=Bousquet|first=Steve|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/rick-scott-the-tv-image-well-known-rick-scott-the-man-is-not/1128342|title=Rick Scott, the TV image is well known, Rick Scott, the man, is not|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=February 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215141151/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/rick-scott-the-tv-image-well-known-rick-scott-the-man-is-not/1128342|archive-date=February 15, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> After graduating from law school, Scott worked as an attorney at the law firm of Johnson & Swanson in Dallas, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/05/07/rick-scott-raising-money-in-texas|title=Rick Scott raising money in Texas|first=Alex|last=Leary|publisher=tampabay.com|access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref>

===Columbia Hospital Corporation===
In 1988, Scott and [[Richard Rainwater]], a financier from Fort Worth, each put up $125,000 in [[working capital]] in their new company, Columbia Hospital Corporation;<ref>{{cite news|title=Largest Publicly Held Hospital Chain Is Planned|author=Milt Freudenheim|date=October 4, 1993|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/04/business/largest-publicly-held-hospital-chain-is-planned.html}}</ref> they borrowed the remaining money needed to purchase two struggling hospitals in [[El Paso, Texas|El Paso]] for $60 million.<ref name="NYTimes-6Oct94"/> Then they acquired a neighboring hospital and shut it down. Within a year, the remaining two were doing much better.<ref name="Time25"/> By the end of 1989, Columbia Hospital Corporation owned four hospitals with a total of 833 beds.<ref name="NYTimes-6Oct94"/>

In 1992, Columbia made a stock purchase of Basic American Medical, which owned eight hospitals, primarily in Southwestern Florida. In September 1993, Columbia did another stock purchase, worth $3.4 billion, of Galen Healthcare, which had been spun off by [[Humana Inc.]] several months earlier.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/21/business/a-hospital-giant-comes-to-town-bringing-change.html?pagewanted=all|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=A Hospital Giant Comes to Town, Bringing Change|author=Kathryn Jones|date=November 21, 1993}}</ref> At the time, Galen had approximately 90 hospitals. After the purchase, Galen stockholders had 82% of the stock in the combined company, with Scott still running the company.<ref name="NYTimes-6Oct94">{{cite news|title=Efficiencies of scale are taken to the nth degree at Columbia|author=Floyd Norris|date=October 6, 1994|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/06/business/market-place-efficiencies-of-scale-are-taken-to-the-nth-degree-at-columbia.html|access-date=August 16, 2015}}</ref>

===Columbia/HCA===
In April 1987, Scott made his first attempt to buy the [[Hospital Corporation of America]] (HCA). While still a partner at Johnson & Swanson, Scott formed the HCA Acquisition Company with two former executives of Republic Health Corporation, Charles Miller and Richard Ragsdale.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hospital Corp. Bid Is Dropped|work=The New York Times|date=April 22, 1987|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/22/business/hospital-corp-bid-is-dropped.html}}</ref> With financing from [[Citicorp]] conditional on acquisition of HCA,<ref>{{cite news|title=The Hospital World's Hard-Driving Money Man|author=Milt Freudenheim|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 5, 1993|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/05/business/the-hospital-world-s-hard-driving-money-man.html}}</ref> the proposed holding company offered $3.85 billion for 80 million shares at $47 each, intending to assume an additional $1.2 billion in debt, for a total $5 billion deal. After HCA declined the offer, the bid was withdrawn.<ref>{{cite news|title=HCA Board Takes No Action on $3.85 Billion Takeover Bid|agency=Associated Press|date=April 17, 1987 }}</ref>

In 1994, Columbia Hospital Corporation merged with HCA, "forming the single largest for-profit health care company in the country." Scott became CEO of Columbia/HCA.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/industries/health-care/2018/08/16/hca-hospitals-nashville-health-care-company-timeline/986397002/|title=HCA: From single hospital to health care behemoth|work=Tennessean.com|last=Kelman|first=Brett|date=August 16, 2018|access-date=October 26, 2018}}</ref> According to ''The New York Times'', "[in] less than a decade, Mr. Scott had built a company he founded with two small hospitals in El Paso into the world's largest health care company – a $20 billion giant with about 350 hospitals, 550 home health care offices and scores of other medical businesses in 38 states."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/26/business/2-leaders-are-out-at-health-giant-as-inquiry-goes-on.html|title=2 Leaders Are Out at Health Giant as Inquiry Goes On|work=The New York Times|last=Eichenwald|first=Kurt|date=July 26, 1997|access-date=October 26, 2018}}</ref>

====Fraud investigation and settlement====
On March 19, 1997, investigators from the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], the Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of Health and Human Services served search warrants at Columbia/HCA facilities in El Paso and on dozens of doctors with suspected ties to the company.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://partners.nytimes.com/library/financial/032197columbia-hca-investigate.html|work=The New York Times|title=U.S. Expands Search of Columbia/HCA in Texas |date=March 21, 1997 |author=Kurt Eichenwald |author-link=Kurt Eichenwald |access-date=March 14, 2019}}</ref> Eight days after the initial raid, Scott signed his last SEC report as a hospital executive. Four months later, the board of directors pressured him to resign as chairman and CEO.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/26/business/2-leaders-are-out-at-health-giant-as-inquiry-goes-on.html|title=2 Leaders are out at health giant as inquiry goes on|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 26, 1997|first=Kurt|last=Eichenwald|access-date=August 16, 2015 }}</ref> He was succeeded by [[Thomas F. Frist Jr.]]<ref name=tampabay>{{cite web|title=Columbia/HCA reports warned Rick Scott of potential legal problems|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/columbiahca-reports-warned-rick-scott-of-potential-legal-problems/1122581|publisher=TampaBay|access-date=December 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502152330/http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/columbiahca-reports-warned-rick-scott-of-potential-legal-problems/1122581|archive-date=May 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Scott was paid $9.88 million in a settlement, and left owning 10 million shares of stock then worth more than $350 million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Korten|first=Tristram|title=Rick Scott profits off the uninsured|work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]]|url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/09/30/rick_scott_one|date=September 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511055118/http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/09/30/rick_scott_one|archive-date=May 11, 2010|access-date=December 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/HOSPITAL+FIRM+OUSTS+ITS+FOUNDER%3B+COLUMBIA%2FHCA+TRIES+TO+STOP...-a083874577|title=Hospital Firm Ousts Its Founder; Columbia/Hca Tries To Stop Slide|publisher=Thefreelibrary.com|date=July 26, 1997|access-date=May 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2006/04/17/story1.html|first=M.C.|last=Moewe|title=Ex-Columbia chief helps grow Solantic|date=April 17, 2006}}</ref> The directors had been warned in the company's annual public reports to stockholders that incentives Columbia/HCA offered doctors could run afoul of a federal anti-kickback law passed in order to limit or eliminate instances of conflicts of interest in Medicare and Medicaid.<ref name=tampabay/>

In 2000, during a deposition for a civil suit unrelated to the fraud investigation, Scott [[Plead the Fifth|pleaded the Fifth Amendment]] 75 times.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2014/jun/17/florida-democratic-party/rick-scott-took-5th-75-times-democratic-party-ad-s|title=Rick Scott took the 5th Amendment 75 times, Democratic party ad says|author=Amy Sherman|date=June 17, 2014|website=Politifact.com|access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref> In settlements reached in 2000 and 2002, Columbia/HCA pleaded guilty to 14 felonies and agreed to a $600+ million fine in what was at the time the largest health care fraud settlement in U.S. history. Columbia/HCA admitted systematically overcharging the government by claiming marketing costs as reimbursable, by striking illegal deals with home care agencies, and by filing false data about use of hospital space. It also admitted to fraudulently billing Medicare and other health programs by inflating the seriousness of diagnoses and to giving doctors partnerships in company hospitals as a kickback for the doctors referring patients to HCA. It filed false cost reports, fraudulently billed Medicare for home health care workers, and paid kickbacks in the sale of home health agencies and to doctors to refer patients. In addition, it gave doctors "loans" never intending to be repaid, free rent, free office furniture, and free drugs from hospital pharmacies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/2000/12/15/1215disaster.html#60babbe2b66c|title=Disaster Of The Day: HCA|last=Ackman|first=Dan|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-10-26}}</ref><ref name=":20"/>

In late 2002, HCA agreed to pay the United States government $631 million, plus interest, and $17.5 million to state [[Medicaid]] agencies, in addition to $250 million paid up to that point to resolve outstanding Medicare expense claims.<ref>{{cite news|date=December 18, 2002|title=HCA to settle more allegations for $631M|author=Julie Appleby|work=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2002-12-18-hca-settlement-_x.htm}}</ref> In all, civil lawsuits cost HCA more than $2 billion to settle; at the time, this was the largest fraud settlement in U.S. history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/documents/doj-accomplishments.pdf|title=Accomplishments of the Department of Justice 2001–09|access-date=May 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sherman|first=Amy|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/03/05/3973857/rick-scott-oversaw-the-largest.html#storylink=cpy|title=Rick Scott 'oversaw the largest Medicare fraud in the nation's history', Florida Democratic Party says|website=[[Miami Herald]]|access-date=November 6, 2014}}</ref>

===Venture capitalist===
After leaving Columbia/HCA in 1997, Scott launched Richard L. Scott Investments, based in [[Naples, Florida]] (originally in [[Stamford, Connecticut]]), which has stakes in health care, manufacturing and technology companies. Between 1998 and 2001, he purchased 50% of CyberGuard Corporation for approximately $10 million. Among his investors was Metro Nashville finance director David Manning.<ref name="btn01">Drew Ruble, [http://www.businesstn.com/content/great-scott "Great Scott"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809170622/http://businesstn.com/content/great-scott|date=August 9, 2009}}, businesstn.com, July 2006; retrieved June 23, 2009.</ref>

In 2006, CyberGuard was sold to [[Secure Computing]] for more than $300 million. In February 2005, Scott purchased Continental Structural Plastics, Inc. (CSP) in [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]]. In July 2006, CSP purchased Budd Plastics from [[ThyssenKrupp]], making CSP the largest industrial composites molder in North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/richard-l-scott-investments-completes-acquisition-of-thyssenkrupp-budd-companys-plastics-division-with-portfolio-company-continental-structural-plastics-56132942.html|title=Richard L. Scott Investments Completes Acquisition of ThyssenKrupp Budd Company's Plastics Division with Portfolio Company Continental Structural Plastics|last=LLC|first=Richard L. Scott Investments|website=prnewswire.com|access-date=October 10, 2016}}</ref>

In 2005–2006, Scott provided the initial round of funding of $3 million to Alijor.com (named for the first three letters of his two daughters' names), which offered hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers the opportunity to post information about their prices, hours, locations, insurance accepted, and personal backgrounds online.<ref>{{cite news|date=July 28, 2008|title=Alijor's online directory of providers growing|work=San Jose Business Journal|author=Lisa Sibley|url=http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2008/07/28/newscolumn1.html|access-date=August 16, 2015}}</ref> Scott co-founded the company with his daughter Allison.<ref name="btn01"/>

In 2008, Alijor was sold to [[HealthGrades]]. In May 2008, Scott purchased ''Drives'', one of the world's leading independent designers and manufacturers of heavy-duty drive chain-based products and assemblies for industrial and agricultural applications and precision-engineered augers for agricultural, material handling, construction and related applications. Scott reportedly has an interest in a chain of family fun centers/bowling alleys, S&S Family Entertainment, in Kentucky and Tennessee led by [[Larry Schmittou]], a minor league baseball team owner.<ref>[http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2002/12/1/25_emerging_companies "25 Emerging Companies"], NashvillePost.com, December 1, 2002; retrieved June 23, 2009.</ref>

===America's Health Network (AHN)===
In July 1997, Columbia/HCA Healthcare purchased a controlling interest in ''America's Health Network'' (AHN), the first 24-hour health care cable channel. The company pulled out of the deal on the day of the closing because Scott and Vandewater were terminated, causing the immediate layoffs of more than 250 people in Orlando. Later that same year, Scott became majority owner of AHN.<ref name="AP-14Nov97">{{cite news|title=Former Columbia/HCA official gains $9.9 million in severances|work=Oklahoma City Journal Record|date=November 14, 1997|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_19971114/ai_n10113667|access-date=August 16, 2015}}</ref>

In 1998, Scott and Vandewater led a group of investors who gave AHN a major infusion of cash so that the company could continue to operate. By early 1999, the network was available in 9.5 million American homes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Where Dr. Spock Meets 'E.R.' on Line|author=Lisa Napoli|date=February 22, 1999|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/22/business/media-where-dr-spock-meets-er-on-line.html|access-date=June 7, 2014 }}</ref>

In mid-1999 AHN merged with ''Fit TV'', a subsidiary of Fox; the combination was renamed The Health Network.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 4, 1999|title=AHN getting 'fit' with Fox TV; Cable start-up gets backing, distribution muscle with network merger|work=Orlando Business Journal|author=Jill Krueger|url=http://birmingham.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/1999/06/07/story1.html}}</ref> Later that year, in a deal between [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corp.]] and [[WebMD]], the latter received half-ownership of The Health Network. WebMD planned to relaunch The Health Network as WebMD Television in the fall of 2000, with new programming, but that company announced cutbacks and restructuring in September 2000, and, in January 2001, News Corp. regained 100% ownership.<ref>{{cite news|title=News Corp. Gets All of Health Network|work=Multichannel News|date=January 8, 2001|access-date=August 16, 2015|author=Linda Moss|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-10555169_ITM}}</ref> In September 2001, Fox Cable Networks Group sold The Health Network to its main rival, the [[Discovery Health Channel]], for $155 million in cash plus a 10% equity stake in Discovery Health.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/sep01/sep03/4_thurs/news7thursday.html|work=Media Life Magazine|date=September 4, 2001|title=Discovery snaps up rival health network}}</ref>

===Solantic===
[[File:Rickscotthead.jpg|thumb|Scott in 2007]]
Solantic, based in [[Jacksonville, Florida]], was co-founded in 2001 by Scott and Karen Bowling, a former television anchor Scott met after Columbia bought what is now Memorial Hospital in 1995.<ref name="JBJ-17Apr06">{{cite news |author=M.C. Moewe |date=April 17, 2006 |title=Ex-Columbia chief helps grow Solantic |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2006/04/17/story1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604180435/https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2006/04/17/story1.html |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=August 16, 2015 |work=Jacksonville Business Journal}}</ref>

Solantic opened its first urgent care center in 2002. It provides urgent care services, immunizations, physicals, drug screening, and care for injured workers. The corporation attracts patients who do not have insurance, cannot get appointments with their primary care physicians, or do not have primary care physicians. Solantic is an alternative to the emergency department care that these types of patients often seek, or for not seeing a doctor at all. In 2006, Scott said that his plans for Solantic were to establish a national brand of medical clinics.<ref name="JBJ-17Apr06"/>

In August 2007, the company received a $40 million investment from a private equity firm and said that it expected to open 35 clinics by the end of 2009, with annual revenues of $100 million once all these clinics were open, compared to $20 million at the time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Solantic to expand well beyond state: The urgent-care center is planning to open 35 more clinics by the end of 2009|author=Urvaksh Karkaria|work=Jacksonville Times-Union|date=August 15, 2007|url=http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/081507/bus_191384274.shtml|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122440/http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/081507/bus_191384274.shtml|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of March 2009, Solantic had 24 centers, all in Florida.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bethesda hospital, Solantic to open urgent care center|author=Phil Galewitz|work=Palm Beach Post|date=April 1, 2009|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2009/04/01/a7b_urgent_0402.html|access-date=August 16, 2015}}</ref>

Solantic was the target of an employment discrimination suit that claimed that there had been a policy to not hire elderly or obese applicants, preferring "mainstream" candidates. It was settled for an undisclosed sum on May 23, 2007. Scott responded to Salon regarding the claims of discrimination pointing out that "currently 53 percent of Solantic's employees are white, 20 percent black and 17 percent Hispanic."<ref>{{cite news|title=A healthcare reform foe's alleged history of discrimination|author=Tristram Korten|work=Salon.com|date=October 10, 2009|url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/10/01/rick_scott_two/index.html|access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref>

===Pharmaca===
In 2003, Scott invested $5.5 million in Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacies,<ref>{{cite news|date=September 29, 2010|title=Pharmaca Completes $5.5 Million Equity Financing With Richard L. Scott to Open New Pharmaca Locations|work=New Hope Network|url=https://www.newhope.com/industry-insights/market-data-and-analysis|access-date=March 8, 2021}}</ref> which operates drugstores/pharmacies in the [[Western United States]] that offer vitamins, herbal medicine, skin products, homeopathic medicines, and prescriptions.

===Other work===
In the 1990s, Scott was a partner of [[George W. Bush]] as co-owner of the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]].<ref name=rangers>Dan Eggen, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/10/AR2009051002243.html "Ex-Hospital CEO Battles Reform Effort"], ''Washington Post'', May 11, 2009.</ref>

==Early political career==
===Conservatives for Patients' Rights===
{{Main|Conservatives for Patients' Rights}}
[[File:Florida Governor Rick Scott speaking at the 2011 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, FL.jpg|thumb|Governor Scott speaking at the 2011 [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC) in [[Orlando, Florida]]]]
In February 2009, Scott founded Conservatives for Patients' Rights (CPR), which he said was intended to put pressure on [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] to enact health care legislation based on [[Free-market health care|free-market]] principles.<ref name="WSJ 022609">{{cite news|title=Lobbyists Line Up to Torpedo Speech Proposals|first1=Brody|last1=Mullins|first2=Scott|last2=Kilman|date=February 26, 2009|access-date=April 2, 2009|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123561083268377547}}</ref> As of March 2009, he had given about $5 million for a planned $20 million ad campaign by CPR.<ref>{{cite news|title=Conservatives worry that the cost of a government health plan can go in only one direction|author=Edward Lee Pitts|url=http://www.worldmag.com/articles/15157|work=World Magazine|date=March 28, 2009}}</ref>

==Governor of Florida==

===Elections===
====2010====
{{Main|2010 Florida gubernatorial election}}
On April 9, 2010, Scott announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for [[Governor of Florida|governor of Florida]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2010/apr/22/rick-scott/rick-scott-republican-governor-facebook|title=Is Rick Scott the top Republican governor candidate on Facebook?|author=Sharockman, Aaron|date=April 22, 2010|work=Politifact|publisher=St. Petersburg Times, Miami Herald|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref>

[[Susie Wiles]], former communications chief to [[Jacksonville]] Mayor [[John Peyton (U.S. politician)|John Peyton]], was Scott's campaign manager, and [[Tony Fabrizio]] was his chief pollster. It was reported on May 7 that Scott's campaign had already spent $4.7 million on television and radio ads.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rick Scott, multimillionaire political rookie, gunning to be governor of Florida|first=Adam C.|last=Smith|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=May 7, 2010|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/rick-scott-multimillionaire-political-rookie-gunning-to-be-governor-of/1093234|access-date=June 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712033358/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/rick-scott-multimillionaire-political-rookie-gunning-to-be-governor-of/1093234|archive-date=July 12, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> His first video advertisement was released to [[YouTube]] on April 13.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jibG4DwBsE|url-status=dead|title=Accountable|author=Scott for Florida|date=April 13, 2010|work=YouTube|access-date=June 24, 2010|archive-date=June 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625043541/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jibG4DwBsE}}</ref>

During the primary campaign, Scott's opponent, [[Bill McCollum]], made an issue of Scott's role at Columbia/HCA. Scott countered that the FBI had never targeted him. Marc Caputo of the ''[[Miami Herald]]'' contended that a 1998 bill McCollum sponsored would have made it more difficult to prosecute Medicare fraud cases, and was counter to his current views and allegations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bill McCollum's attacks on rival Rick Scott clash with record|first=Marc|last=Caputo|newspaper=Miami Herald|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/25/1646281/mccollums-attacks-on-rival-scott.html|access-date=August 16, 2015}}</ref> Scott won the August primary with 46.4% of the vote to McCollum's 43.4%.

In the general election, Scott faced [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee [[Alex Sink]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Catherine Whittenburg |date=August 24, 2010 |title=Scott claims victory in Republican governor's race |url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/aug/24/240125/scott-pulls-4-points-ahead-mccollum/news-politics |newspaper=The Tampa Tribune}}</ref> By October 25, Scott had spent $60 million of his own money on the campaign, compared to Sink's reported $28 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2010/10/26/governors-race-rick-scott-alex-sink-save-harshest-words-for-last-debate/|title=Governor's race: Rick Scott, Alex Sink save harshest words for last debate|work=Orlando Sentinel|author=Deslatte, Aaron|date=October 26, 2010|access-date=May 30, 2011}}</ref> Scott campaigned as part of the [[Tea Party movement]].<ref name=":13">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/09/florida-gov-rick-scott-is-running-for-senate.html|title=Florida Gov. Rick Scott is running for Senate|last=CNBC|date=2018-04-09|work=CNBC|access-date=2018-08-29}}</ref>

''[[Fort Myers News-Press|The Fort Myers News-Press]]'' quoted Scott as saying he had spent roughly $78 million of his own money on the campaign, although other figures indicate he spent slightly over $75 million. He defeated Sink by around 68,000 votes, or 1.29%.<ref>[http://enight.elections.myflorida.com/contestdetails.aspx?con=160000 Florida Governor race for 2010], Florida Election Watch webpage; accessed August 16, 2015.</ref> He took office as the 45th governor of Florida on January 4, 2011.

====2014====
{{Main|2014 Florida gubernatorial election}}
In October 2011, Scott announced that he would run for reelection in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gov. Scott: I'll run again in 2014 |url=http://www.ocala.com/article/20111004/WIRE/111009899 |publisher=Ocala.com |access-date=January 23, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924122355/http://www.ocala.com/article/20111004/WIRE/111009899 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His political funding committee, [[Let's Get to Work]], had raised $28 million for his campaign as of May 2014.<ref name=CG-140515>{{cite web|url=http://clearwatergazette.com/cg/news/political-news-20140515|title=Scott campaign, committee collect $1.3M|publisher=Clearwater Gazette |date = May 15, 2014|access-date=June 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714163354/http://clearwatergazette.com/cg/news/political-news-20140515/|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=FDE-CFA>{{cite web|url=http://election.dos.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/TreSel.exe |title = Let's Get to Work: Campaign Finance Activity|publisher=Florida Division of Elections|access-date=June 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930114620/http://election.dos.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/TreSel.exe|archive-date=September 30, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As of early June 2014, Scott had spent almost $13 million since March on television advertisements attacking former governor [[Charlie Crist]], who then appeared to be the likely Democratic nominee, and who was eventually nominated. The ads resulted in a tightening of the race, mainly due to a decline in Crist's favorability ratings, while Scott's favorability ratings did not increase.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2014/06/08/gov-scotts-ad-blitz-aims-to-hit-crist-early/|title=Gov. Scott's ad blitz aims to hit Crist early|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=June 8, 2014|access-date=December 22, 2014|author=Aaron Deslatte}}</ref>

By late September 2014, Scott's television ad spending had exceeded $35 million<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/dc58e5b58f32444e82eb6a2238814122/FL--Governors-Race-Campaign|title=Florida Gov. Rick Scott and ex-Gov. Charlie Crist bash each other as campaigns kick into gear|publisher=The Republic|date=September 1, 2014|access-date=December 22, 2014|author=Gary Fineout|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914004332/http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/dc58e5b58f32444e82eb6a2238814122/FL--Governors-Race-Campaign|archive-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/marc-caputo/article2194752.html|title=With $50 million in TV ad spending, Rick Scott-Charlie Crist race is one big marketing campaign|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=September 21, 2014|access-date=December 22, 2014|author=Marc Caputo}}</ref> and in mid-October reached $56.5 million, compared to $26.5 million by Crist. On October 22 it was reported that Scott's total spending had exceeded $83 million and he announced that, having previously said he would not do so, he would invest his own money into the campaign, speculated to be as much as $22 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2014/10/scott-says-he-will-write-his-campaign-a-personal-check-after-all-.html|title=Scott says he will write his campaign a personal check, after all, but won't say how much|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=October 22, 2014|access-date=December 22, 2014|author=Marc Caputo}}</ref>

Crist hoped to draw strong support from Florida's more than 1.6 million registered black voters, an effort that was challenging given his previous political career as a Republican. A September 2014 [[Quinnipiac University]] poll revealed his support among black voters was 72%, well below the 90% analysts believed he needed to defeat Scott.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stein|first1=Letitia|title=In Florida governor's race, Democrat woos crucial black vote|newspaper=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-florida-election-idUSKBN0FZ17J20140730|date=July 30, 2014|access-date=December 22, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006122651/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/30/us-usa-florida-election-idUSKBN0FZ17J20140730|url-status=live}}</ref>

Scott and Crist met in an October 15 debate held by the Florida Press Association at [[Broward College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beforeyouvote.org|title=The race for the governor of florida|website=Before You Vote|access-date=December 22, 2014}}</ref> Scott refused to take the stage for seven minutes because Crist had a small electric fan under his lectern. The incident was dubbed [[List of scandals with "-gate" suffix|"fangate"]] by media sources such as ''[[Politico]]''.<ref name=TParti>{{cite news|last1=Parti|first1=Tarini|title=Rick Scott faces the 'Fangate' heat|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/10/fan-rick-scott-charlie-crist-111948.html|access-date=December 22, 2014|publisher=Politico|date=October 16, 2014}}</ref> On November 4, 2014, Scott and Carlos Lopez-Cantera won the general election against Crist and Annette Taddeo-Goldstein by 64,000 votes. The Libertarian candidates, Adrian Wyllie and Greg Roe, received 223,356 votes.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/Index.asp?ElectionDate=11/4/2014&DATAMODE=|title=Florida Department of State - Election Results|website=results.elections.myflorida.com}}</ref>{{multiple image
 | align = right
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 | image1 = Rick Scott official portrait.jpg
 | alt1 = 
 | caption1 = 
 | image2 = Governor Rick Scott 2013.jpg
 | alt2 = 
 | caption2 = 
 | footer = Scott's gubernatorial portraits during his first (left) and second (right) term}}

=== Tenure ===
[[File:Kb 2051 Cabinet Meeting.jpg|thumb|Scott, Florida attorney general [[Pam Bondi]], and other state officials]]
[[File:Rick Scott CA MIA-50.jpg|thumb|Scott with the [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] in [[Miami]]]]
[[File:Veterans Award Ceremony Kb 9646.jpg|thumb|Scott speaking at Veterans Award Ceremony]]
During [[Hurricane Irma]], Scott led Florida through the largest mass evacuation in U.S. history. He signed a repeal of Florida's 1985 growth management laws, reduced funding for water management districts, reduced oversight at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and supported increased funding for [[Everglades]] restoration. Scott supported permanent tax cuts and "focused on job numbers rather than on running state agencies or making sweeping policy changes".<ref name="legacy">{{cite news|last1=Bousquet|first1=Steve|title=Solitary man: What Rick Scott's legacy as governor will look like|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/01/04/solitary-man-what-rick-scotts-legacy-as-governor-will-look-like/|access-date=June 21, 2018|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|date=January 4, 2018}}</ref>

Scott had a 26 percent [[approval rating]] in December 2011, the lowest among U.S. governors,<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 27, 2011 |title=Sinking G.O.P. Poll Numbers May Put Florida in Play |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/us/28florida.html |website=[[New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2011 |title=Florida Governor Rick Scott's Popularity Plunges To Record Low |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rick-scott-approval-rating-record_n_1132160 |website=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref> but it steadily increased during the rest of his governorship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2012 |title=Poll: Scott Approval Rating Falls To 31% |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/poll-scott-approval-rating-falls-to-31/ |website=[[CBS]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 20, 2015 |title=Rick Scott, America's eighth least popular Governor |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2015/11/20/rick-scott-americas-eighth-least-popular-governor/76104172/ |website=[[Tallahassee Democrat]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2013 |title=Gov. Scott Approval Rating Up |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/gov-scott-approval-rating-up/ |website=[[CBS]]}}</ref> It stood at 45 percent in August 2015,<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Scott approval rating improves |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/port-charlotte-sun-scott-approval-rating/129938646/ |newspaper=Port Charlotte Sun}}</ref> and at 57 percent in April 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2017 |title=Rick Scott's approval: Economy trumps all |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/port-charlotte-sun-rick-scotts-approval/130757205/ |last=Henderson |first=Joe |newspaper=Port Charlotte Sun}}</ref> In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma later that year, Scott's approval rating saw a high of 61 percent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2017 |title=Poll: Scott's favorability rising |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-press-poll-scotts-favorability-ri/126818053/ |website=[[The News-Press]]}}</ref> Shortly before he left office, his ratings had fallen to 47 percent approving and 41 percent disapproving.<ref name="ballot">{{Cite web |title=Gubernatorial approval ratings (2015-2019) |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Gubernatorial_approval_ratings_(2015-2019)#Q4_2017 |website=[[BallotPedia]]}}</ref>

====Death penalty====
In 2013, Scott signed the ''Timely Justice Act'' (HB 7101)<ref>{{cite web|title=HB 7101|url=https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2016/7101/BillText/er/PDF|publisher=[[Florida State Senate]]|website=Flsenate.gov|access-date=March 15, 2016}}</ref> to overhaul the processes for [[capital punishment in Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Gov. Rick Scott signs bill to speed up executions in Florida|first=Mary Ellen|last=Klas|newspaper=[[Miami Herald]]|access-date=October 15, 2016|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/article1952487.html|date=June 14, 2016}}</ref> The [[Supreme Court of the United States]] struck down part of this law in January 2016 in ''[[Hurst v. Florida]]'', declaring, in an 8–1 decision, that a judge determining the aggravating facts to be used in considering a death sentence with only a non-binding recommendation from the jury based on a majority vote was insufficient and violated the [[Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Sixth Amendment]] guarantee of a jury trial.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/us/politics/supreme-court-death-penalty-hurst-v-florida.html|first=Adam|last=Liptak|title=Supreme Court Strikes Down Part of Florida Death Penalty|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 12, 2016|access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/03/us/supreme-court-ruling-has-florida-scrambling-to-fix-death-penalty-law.html|first=Lizette|last=Alvarez|title=Supreme Court Ruling Has Florida Scrambling to Fix Death Penalty Law|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 2, 2016|access-date=October 14, 2016}}</ref>

The [[Florida Legislature]] passed a new statute to comply with ''[[Hurst v. Florida]]'', changing the sentencing method to require a 10-juror supermajority for a sentence of death with a life sentence as the alternative.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/03/07/florida-death-penalty-officially-revamped-after-supreme-court-struck-it-down|title=Florida death penalty officially revamped after the Supreme Court struck it down|last=Berman|first=Mark|date=March 7, 2016|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref> In October 2016 this new sentencing scheme was struck down by the [[Florida Supreme Court]] in a 5–2 ruling, which held that a death sentence must be issued by a unanimous jury.<ref>{{cite news|title=Court again tosses state death penalty; ruling raises bar on capital punishment|first1=Mary Ellen|last1=Klas|first2=David|last2=Ovalle|date=October 14, 2016|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article108231392.html|newspaper=[[Miami Herald]]|access-date=October 15, 2016}}</ref> The Florida Supreme Court ruled the law "cannot be applied to pending prosecutions" which means that until the Florida legislature acts, there is no procedure or law allowing a prosecutor to seek the death penalty; but the status of sentences passed under the twice-struck down provisions was unresolved.<ref name=FlSupCt_Oct16/> The January 2016 [[United States Supreme Court]] ''Hurst'' decision also left those sentences' status unresolved. The Court granted Hurst a new sentencing hearing after its decision.<ref name=FlSupCt_Oct16>{{cite news|title=Florida's Death Penalty Law Is Ruled Unconstitutional – Again|date=October 25, 2016|first=Cristian|last=Farias|newspaper=[[Huffington Post]]|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/florida-death-penalty_us_5801066de4b06e04759473b3|access-date=October 15, 2016}}</ref>

During Scott's tenure, Florida executed more inmates (28) than had been executed under any other governor in the state's history.<ref name="legacy"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2019/04/24/florida-governors-death-penalty-desantis-set-record|title=Florida Governors and the Death Penalty: Could DeSantis Pass Rick Scott?|author=De Jesus, Roy|website=www.baynews9.com}}</ref>

In February 2025, Scott said that the suspected murderer of [[Killing of Brian Thompson#Suspect|Brian Thompson]] should be sentenced to death if convicted, but also opened the possibility for a "legitimate" conversation about [[Healthcare reform in the United States|healthcare reform]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/719300-rick-scott-luigi-mangione/ | title=Rick Scott says Luigi Mangione should be executed | date=February 4, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/rick-scott-says-luigi-mangione-should-be-executed | title=Rick Scott says Luigi Mangione should be executed | date=February 4, 2025 }}</ref>

==== Donald Trump ====
In the 2016 Republican primaries, Scott endorsed Trump after Trump won the [[Florida Republican primary, 2016|Florida primary]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/04/27/once-eager-to-tout-trump-friendship-rick-scott-now-plays-it-down/|title=Once eager to tout Trump friendship, Rick Scott now plays it down|last=Leary|first=Alex|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2018-08-27|language=en-US}}</ref> Scott chaired a pro-Trump super PAC in the 2016 election.<ref name=":9"/><ref name=":10">{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/florida-senate-race-rick-scott-treads-carefully-trump/story?id=57359027|title=In Florida Senate race, Rick Scott treads carefully around Trump|date=2018-08-26|website=ABC News|first1=John|last1=Verhovek|first2=Lissette|last2=Rodriguez|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref> Unlike many other establishment Republicans, Scott praised Trump as tough on terrorism and as an outsider during the 2016 Republican convention.<ref name=":9"/>

When Trump "sparred with the Muslim father of a slain U.S. soldier", Scott said "I'm never going to agree with every candidate on what they're going to say".<ref name=":9"/> When the [[Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape]] was publicized, in which Trump spoke of grabbing women "by the pussy", Scott rebuked Trump, saying, "I'm not following politics closely right now, but this is terrible. I don't agree with anyone talking like this about anyone, ever."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Caputo|first1=Marc|last2=Lima|first2=Cristiano|title=Scott, Rubio rebuke Trump|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/rick-scott-marco-rubio-donald-trump-comments-women-229334|access-date=August 29, 2018 |publisher=Politico|date=October 7, 2016}}</ref>

====Drug testing for welfare recipients====
In June 2011, Scott signed a bill requiring those seeking welfare under the federal [[Temporary Assistance for Needy Families]] program to submit to drug screenings. Applicants who fail a drug test may name another person to receive benefits for their children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-01/politics/florida.welfare.drug.testing_1_drug-testing-drug-screening-tanf?_s=PM:POLITICS|title=Florida governor signs welfare drug-screen measure|publisher=CNN.com|date=June 1, 2011|access-date=September 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916231858/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-01/politics/florida.welfare.drug.testing_1_drug-testing-drug-screening-tanf?_s=PM:POLITICS|archive-date=September 16, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In an interview with CNN host [[Don Lemon]], Scott said, "Studies show that people that are on welfare are higher users of drugs than people not on welfare" and "the bottom line is, if they're not using drugs, it's not an issue". [[PolitiFact]] said this comment was "half true". Government researchers in 1999–2000 reported "that 9.6 percent of people in families receiving some type of government assistance reported recent drug use, compared to 6.8 percent among people in families receiving no government assistance at all."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2011/jun/09/rick-scott/rick-scott-says-welfare-recipients-are-more-likely|publisher=PolitiFact.com|title=Rick Scott says welfare recipients are more likely to use illicit drugs|date=June 9, 2011|access-date=September 28, 2011}}</ref>

Preliminary figures from Florida's program showed that 2.5% of applicants tested positive for drugs, with 2% declining to take the test, while the Justice Department estimated that around 6% of Americans use drugs overall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/us/florida-few-drug-users-among-welfare-applicants.html|agency=Associated Press|title=Florida: Few Drug Users Among Welfare Applicants|work=The New York Times |date=September 28, 2011}}</ref> The law was declared unconstitutional, with the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit]] upholding that ruling in December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Florida drops bid to require drug tests for welfare applicants|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-declines-to-appeal-further-in-case-of-welfare-drug-testing|website=CBSnews.com|date=March 5, 2015 |access-date=August 12, 2015}}</ref> The Scott administration declined to appeal the decision to the US Supreme Court.

====Economy====
In Scott's 2010 gubernatorial campaign, he promised to "run the state like you run a business".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Allen|first1=Greg|title=Gov. Scott, Ex-CEO, Aims To Run Fla. Like A Business|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/01/06/132684525/rick-scott-floridas-outsider-is-now-in-office|access-date=May 12, 2023|work=[[NPR]]|date=January 6, 2011}}</ref> In his gubernatorial platform, he pledged to create 700,000 jobs in the state; [[PolitiFact]] ruled in 2018 that Scott's job creation pledge was a "Promise Kept".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Graves|first1=Allison|title=Create over 700,000 jobs|url=http://www.politifact.com/florida/promises/scott-o-meter/promise/588/create-over-700000-jobs|access-date=June 21, 2018|work=Scott-O-Meter|publisher=PolitiFact|date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>

Under Scott, Florida's job creation far outpaced the rest of the nation, while wages were below-average and poverty rates were above-average. During his tenure as governor, Florida employers created nearly 1.5 million jobs, and the state's employment grew 20.3%, compared to 12.5% growth for the U.S. as a whole. Florida's household income is lower than the national average, with a widening gap. At 15.8%, the state's poverty rate is slightly above the national rate of 14.7%.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ostrowski|first1=Jeff|title=Florida economy in Rick Scott era: Success story or disappointment?|url=https://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/business/florida-economy-rick-scott-era-success-story-disappointment/FEkqP98ayB1pfW9W9dRyNJ|access-date=June 21, 2018|newspaper=Palm Beach Post|date=January 9, 2018|archive-date=June 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621070258/https://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/business/florida-economy-rick-scott-era-success-story-disappointment/FEkqP98ayB1pfW9W9dRyNJ/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Education====
In his 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Scott vowed to expand [[school choice]]. [[PolitiFact]] rated this a "Promise Kept" due to Scott's push to expand school choice as governor. School choice legislation signed by Scott includes the creation of the Hope Scholarship Program, which subsidizes the cost of private school or allows a transfer to another public school for students who were bullied.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ellenbogen|first1=Romy|title=Expand school options for parents|url=http://www.politifact.com/florida/promises/scott-o-meter/promise/633/expand-school-options-for-parents|access-date=June 21, 2018|work=Scott-O-Meter|publisher=PolitiFact|date=April 24, 2018}}</ref>

In December 2012, Scott announced a plan to encourage students to pursue majors in engineering and science by reducing tuition for some majors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/education/florida-may-reduce-tuition-for-select-majors.html?pagewanted=all|title=To Steer Students Toward Jobs, Florida May Cut Tuition for Select Major|author=Alvarez, Lizette|work=The New York Times|date=December 9, 2012|access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref>

In 2016, Scott signed a bill allowing parents to pick any public school in the state for their children, regardless of traditional attendance lines or county boundaries.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Postal|first1=Leslie|title=Gov. Scott signs education bill that allows transfers to any school|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-gov-scott-school-choice-transfers-billl-20160414-story.html|access-date=June 21, 2018|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=April 14, 2016}}</ref>

In 2017, Scott signed a $419 million public school bill that included [[charter school]] expansion. The bill was supported by House Republicans, school choice proponents, and conservative political groups and it was opposed by superintendents, school boards, parent groups, and teachers unions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Clark|first1=Kristen|last2=Gurney|first2=Kyra|title=Governor signs controversial schools bill into law|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article156299239.html|access-date=June 21, 2018|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=June 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Postal|first1=Leslie|title=Gov. Scott signs controversial education bill at Orlando ceremony|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-rick-scott-education-bill-7069-story.html|access-date=June 21, 2018|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=June 15, 2017}}</ref>

During the summer of 2017, Scott signed a bill (HB 989 and SB 1210) that would allow any Florida resident to "challenge the use or adoption of instructional materials" in public schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/00989/?Tab=Analyses|title=House Bill 989 (2017) – The Florida Senate|website=flsenate.gov|access-date=July 20, 2017}}</ref> Proponents of the bill argued that it would allow parents to be more proactive in their child's education. Opponents of the bill argued that it would allow more censorship, especially for scientific topics like global warming and evolution.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/07/01/new-florida-law-lets-any-resident-challenge-whats-taught-in-science-classes|title=New Florida law lets any resident challenge what's taught in science classes|author=Kaplan, Sarah|newspaper=Washington Post|date=July 1, 2017|access-date=July 20, 2017}}</ref>

====Environment====
Scott rejects the [[scientific consensus on climate change]], saying "[[I'm not a scientist]]".<ref>{{cite news|first=Marc|last=Caputo|date=May 27, 2014|title=Rick Scott won't say if he thinks man-made climate-change is real, significant|url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2014/05/rick-scott-wont-say-if-he-thinks-man-made-climate-change-is-real-significant.html|newspaper=Miami Herald|access-date=March 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Cut short by Gov. Rick Scott, climate scientist finishes his thought|first=Michael|last=Kruse|date=September 3, 2014|access-date=March 17, 2015|url=https://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/cut-short-by-gov-rick-scott-climate-scientist-finishes-his-thought/2195917/|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref> The quote or paraphrases thereof became [[talking point]]s for some Republican political candidates in the 2014 election campaigns.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why Republicans Keep Telling Everyone They're Not Scientists|first=Coral|last=Davenport|date=October 30, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 20, 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/us/why-republicans-keep-telling-everyone-theyre-not-scientists.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Republicans on climate science: Don't ask us|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/republicans-climate-change-science-107234.html|first=Darren|last=Goode|date=March 29, 2014|publisher=Politico.com|access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref>

When questioned by the press on March 9, 2015, in [[Hialeah]], Florida, Scott did not say whether he believes [[global warming]] is a problem or whether Florida's Department of [[Environmental Protection]] has made or is making preparations for its potential consequences.<ref>{{cite news|title=Florida Gov. Rick Scott won't say if global warming is a problem|url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/03/florida-gov-rick-scott-wont-say-if-global-warming-is-a-problem.html|newspaper=[[Miami Herald]]|date=March 9, 2015|first=Patricia|last=Mazzei|access-date=March 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Political Art of Not Being a Scientist|first=Francis X.|last=Clines|date=March 12, 2015|newspaper=New York Times|url=http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/12/the-political-art-of-not-being-a-scientist|access-date=August 16, 2015}}</ref>

In March 2015, accusations were made that Scott's administration had instructed [[Florida Department of Environmental Protection|Department of Environmental Protection]] officials to avoid the terms "[[climate change]]" or "global warming" in official communications. Scott denied that his administration had banned the terms.<ref>{{cite news|title=Florida governor denies environmental agency banned term 'climate change'|first=Patricia|last=Mazzei|date=March 9, 2015|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article13146584.html|newspaper=[[Miami Herald]]|access-date=March 17, 2015}}</ref><ref name=npr>{{cite news|title=Florida Gov. Scott Denies Banning Phrase 'Climate Change'|date=March 11, 2015|first=Greg|last=Allen|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/03/11/392263831/fla-gov-scott-denies-climate-change-is-a-banned-term|access-date=March 17, 2015|work=[[NPR]] }}</ref><ref name=Bosquet>{{cite web|url=http://www.bradenton.com/2015/03/20/5701928/more-climate-change-silence-from.html|title=More 'climate change' silence from Florida Gov. Rick Scott's administration|work=Bradenton Herald|date=March 20, 2015|access-date=August 16, 2015|author=Bosquet, Steve}}</ref><ref name=Rohrer>{{cite web|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-scott-official-avoids-climate-change-in-senate-hearing-20150319-post.html |title = Scott official avoids 'climate change' in Senate hearing|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=March 19, 2015|access-date=August 16, 2015|author=Rohrer, Gray}}</ref>

Scott cut $700 million from Florida's water management districts over his tenure as governor.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2018/aug/14/florida-democrats/yes-rick-scott-did-cut-700-million-floridas-water-|title=Did Rick Scott cut $700 million from water management?|author=Geng, Lucia|work=Politifact|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref> The cuts stirred controversy in 2018 when Florida faced a water contamination crisis.<ref name=":8"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/07/09/gov-scott-declares-emergency-over-toxic-algae-outbreaks/|title=Gov. Scott declares emergency over toxic algae outbreaks|last=Florida|first=News Service of|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>

====Financial disclosures====
In 2017, Donald Hinkle, a Democratic activist and lawyer, filed a lawsuit claiming that Scott had not disclosed sufficient information about his wealth and holdings and may have underestimated his net worth. Scott appealed to a three-judge panel of the First Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court granted a writ of prohibition barring the circuit judge from taking any further action in the case. The five-page ruling agreed with Scott that only the Commission on Ethics "has constitutional authority to investigate Mr. Hinkle's complaint."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-rick-scott-lawsuit-wealth-20171109-story.html|title=Gov. Rick Scott sued over wealth disclosure|author=Fineout, Gary|date=November 9, 2017|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=May 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109212111/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-rick-scott-lawsuit-wealth-20171109-story.html|archive-date=November 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sunshinestatenews.com/story/court-blocks-lawsuit-wanting-scott-disclose-more-about-his-assets|title=Court Blocks Lawsuit Wanting Scott to Disclose More about His Assets|author=Jim Saunders |agency=News Service of Florida|date=November 30, 2018|website=Sunshine State News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205175254/http://sunshinestatenews.com/story/court-blocks-lawsuit-wanting-scott-disclose-more-about-his-assets|archive-date=December 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Gun laws====
As of February 2018, Scott had an A+ rating from the [[NRA Political Victory Fund]] (NRA-PVF), indicating a record of supporting gun rights.<ref name="Mower 2018">{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article201009834.html|last=Mower|first=Lawrence|date=February 20, 2018|title=Scott hasn't declared Senate candidacy, but his support of gun lobby draws attack ad|work=Miami Herald|location=Miami, Florida|access-date=February 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220151747/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article201009834.html|archive-date=February 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The NRA-PVF endorsed Scott in 2010 and 2014, stating in 2014 that he had "signed more pro-gun bills into law–in one term–than any other governor in Florida history".<ref name="nrapvf-2014">{{cite web |title=NRA Endorses Rick Scott for Governor in Florida |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20140918/nra-endorses-rick-scott-for-governor-in-florida |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923194908/https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20140918/nra-endorses-rick-scott-for-governor-in-florida |archive-date=September 23, 2014 |language=en-US |date=September 18, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NRA 2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.nraila.org/articles/20140623/alert-governor-rick-scott-makes-history-signing-5-pro-gun-bills|title=ALERT: Governor Rick Scott Makes History Signing 5 Pro-gun Bills|last=Hammer|first=Marion M.|website=NRA-ILA|publisher=National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action|date=June 23, 2014|access-date=February 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215093942/https://www.nraila.org/articles/20140623/alert-governor-rick-scott-makes-history-signing-5-pro-gun-bills|archive-date=February 15, 2018|url-status=live}}.</ref>

In 2011, Scott signed the [[Firearm Owners' Privacy Act]] (informally called "Docs vs. Glocks"), which made it illegal for doctors and mental health professionals to ask patients about their gun ownership unless they believed "that this information is relevant to the patient's medical care or safety, or the safety of others." Provisions of the law, including the part forbidding doctors from asking about a patient's gun ownership, were struck down as unconstitutional in 2017 by the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit]].<ref name="Sherman 2018">{{cite web |last=Sherman |first=Amy |date=February 22, 2018 |title=Florida Gov. Rick Scott made it illegal for doctors to talk to patients about guns, TV ad says |url=http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2018/feb/22/giffords/florida-gov-rick-scott-made-it-illegal-doctors-tal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223003836/http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2018/feb/22/giffords/florida-gov-rick-scott-made-it-illegal-doctors-tal |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |access-date=February 23, 2018 |website=Politifact |publisher=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref>

On June 9, 2017, Scott signed an expanded version of Florida's [[stand-your-ground law]] into law.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bowden|first1=John|title=Florida governor signs strengthened 'stand your ground' bill into law|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/337215-florida-governor-signs-strengthened-stand-your-ground-bill-into-law/|date=June 9, 2017|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=June 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613132333/http://thehill.com/homenews/news/337215-florida-governor-signs-strengthened-stand-your-ground-bill-into-law|archive-date=June 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2018, after the [[Stoneman Douglas High School shooting]] in [[Parkland, Florida]], Scott stated his support for raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21; at the time of the shooting, 21 was the minimum age to buy a handgun, but rifles could be purchased at age 18. He also announced his support of a ban on [[bump stock]]s. Scott said, "I want to make it virtually impossible for anyone who has mental issues to use a gun", requesting $500 million in funds for mental health and school safety programs.<ref name="Mazzei 2018">{{cite news|last=Mazzei|first=Patricia|date=February 23, 2018|title=Defying N.R.A., Florida Lawmakers Back Raising Age Limits on Assault Rifles|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/us/florida-gun-control.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur |work=[[The New York Times]]|location=New York City|access-date=February 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223193138/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/us/florida-gun-control.html|archive-date=February 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2018, the [[Florida Legislature]] passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which incorporated many of the measures Scott supported. It raised the minimum age for buying firearms to 21, established waiting periods and background checks, provided a program for the arming of some teachers and the hiring of school police, banned bump stocks, and barred potentially violent or mentally unhealthy people arrested under certain laws from possessing guns. In all, it allocated around $400 million.<ref name="Bill">{{cite news|work=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|date=March 7, 2018|first=Dan|last=Sweeney|title=Florida House sends Stoneman Douglas gun and school bill to Gov. Scott|access-date=March 8, 2018|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-florida-school-shooting-legislature-20180307-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307212042/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-florida-school-shooting-legislature-20180307-story.html|archive-date=March 7, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Scott signed the bill into law on March 9.<ref name="Sanchez">{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/09/us/florida-gov-scott-gun-bill/index.html|title=Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs gun bill|last1=Sanchez|first1=Ray|last2=Yan|first2=Holly|date=March 9, 2018|work=CNN|access-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309210028/https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/09/us/florida-gov-scott-gun-bill/index.html|archive-date=March 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> That same day, the National Rifle Association filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the law's provision banning gun sales to people under 21. NRA spokesperson [[Marion Hammer]] said, "We filed a lawsuit against the state for violating the constitutional rights of 18- to 21-year-olds."<ref name="Schweers">{{cite news|url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/03/09/nra-sues-florida-over-gun-bill-same-day-gov-scott-signed-law/412365002|title=NRA sues Florida over gun bill same day Gov. Scott signed it into law|last=Schweers|first=Jeffrey|date=March 9, 2018|work=Tallahassee Democrat|access-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309230737/https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/03/09/nra-sues-florida-over-gun-bill-same-day-gov-scott-signed-law/412365002|archive-date=March 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, Scott voted against the [[Bipartisan Safer Communities Act]], a gun reform bill introduced following a deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The bill enhanced background checks for firearm purchasers under the age of 21, provided funding for school-based mental health services, and partially closed the [[gun show loophole]] and [[boyfriend loophole]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress - 2nd Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00242.htm |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>

====Health care====
Scott has been a harsh critic of the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|Affordable Care Act]] (Obamacare),<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2014/apr/04/charlie-crist/rick-scott-opposes-health-care-law-so-he-wants-go- |title=Rick Scott wants to go back to denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, Charlie Crist says |first=Amy |last=Sherman |work=[[PolitiFact]] |date=April 4, 2014 |access-date=June 14, 2018 }}</ref> but in his 2018 Senate campaign stopped harshly criticizing the bill.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/06/13/pre-existing-conditions-latest-flashpoint-in-nelson-scott-battle/ |title=Pre-existing conditions latest flashpoint in Nelson-Scott battle |last=Leary |first=Alex |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |access-date=June 14, 2018 }}</ref> In 2017, he said that people with preexisting conditions should be protected.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last1=Glorioso |first1=Alexandra |last2=Caputo |first2=Marc |date=June 11, 2018 |title=Scott mum on Trump's attack on pre-existing condition provision |url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/06/11/scott-mum-on-trumps-attack-on-pre-existing-condition-provision-461274 |access-date=June 14, 2018 |work=[[Politico]]}}</ref> In June 2018, when the Trump administration sought to remove provisions of Obamacare protecting people with preexisting conditions, Scott declined to criticize the administration,<ref name=":3"/><ref name=":4"/><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |url=https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/06/13/gov-rick-scott-wont-talk-about-floridas-part-in-obamacare-lawsuit |title=Gov. Rick Scott won't talk about Florida's part in Obamacare lawsuit |first=Christine |last=Sexton |work=[[Orlando Weekly]] |access-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614171933/https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/06/13/gov-rick-scott-wont-talk-about-floridas-part-in-obamacare-lawsuit |url-status=dead }}</ref> saying he did not know enough about it to comment.<ref name=":4"/>

Scott has taken a number of positions on [[Medicaid expansion]]. For much of his first term as governor, he opposed [[Medicaid]] expansion in Florida, saying it was too costly. In 2013, he came out in support of Medicaid expansion, and reiterated his support in 2014 when he was up for reelection.<ref name=":5"/> After being reelected, Scott reversed his position and adamantly fought against efforts by the Florida Senate to pass Medicaid expansion in 2015. Scott rejected the Medicaid expansion because of his renewed fiscal concerns, saying it is "hard to understand how the state could take on even more federal programs."<ref name="budgetmedicaid">{{cite news |last1=Greenberg |first1=Jon |date=April 7, 2015 |title=Gov. Rick Scott shifts again on Medicaid expansion |url=http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2015/apr/07/rick-scott/scott-shifts-again-medicaid-expansion |access-date=April 13, 2018 |work=[[PolitiFact]] |agency=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref> Scott voted against the [[Inflation Reduction Act]] in 2022, which allows Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress - 2nd Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00325.htm |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>

Scott has been accused of having fueled an [[HIV/AIDS|HIV]] epidemic while governor, by ensuring that Florida returned $54 million in unspent federal HIV-prevention grants and blocking $16 million in [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|CDC]] grants to [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade]] and [[Broward County, Florida|Broward]] counties. The effect of this rejection of federal funds combined with Scott's stance on Medicaid expansion has been described as "helping explain why the state’s HIV epidemic became almost peerlessly severe during Scott’s time in office", with the state accounting for 13% of the country's HIV diagnoses in 2017. Scott has opposed most federal grants due to his fiscal conservatism.<ref name="The Guardian 2019-09-11">{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Benjamin |date=September 11, 2019 |title='Rick Scott had us on lockdown': how Florida said no to $70m for HIV crisis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/11/florida-hiv-rick-scott-republican-governor |access-date=September 15, 2019 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

====Hurricane Irma====
Scott's handling of [[Hurricane Irma]] boosted his profile in advance of his U.S. Senate campaign, with ''The Hill'' writing that his "aggressive approach to Irma, which saw him order an extensive evacuation ahead of the storm and coordinate disaster relief efforts as the storm came ashore, has sent his political stock even higher".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Henry|first1=Devin|title=Rick Scott's hurricane response boosts potential Senate run|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/350455-rick-scotts-hurricane-response-boosts-profile-for-potential-senate-run/|access-date=June 20, 2018|newspaper=The Hill|date=September 13, 2017}}</ref>

An investigation by [[WFOR-TV]] found that after Hurricane Irma, Scott ignored existing debris removal contracts and instead issued emergency contracts for hurricane clean-up efforts. Florida state officials sent an email to several companies on September 11 inviting them to hand in bids for debris clean-up by the next day. State officials believed new contracts were needed to speed up the removal process given the severity of Hurricane Irma. On September 13, state officials decided to use the services of MCM and Community Asphalt, firms owned by contributors to the Republican Party and Scott's campaigns. According to the television station, the emergency contracts cost $28 to $30 million more than the existing contracts.<ref name=hurricane>{{cite news|last1=DeFede|first1=Jim|title=Exclusive: Rick Scott's 'Rookie Mistake' May Have Cost Taxpayers Millions|url=https://miami.cbslocal.com/2018/06/12/rick-scott-rookie-mistake-cost-millions|access-date=June 20, 2018|publisher=CBS Miami|date=June 12, 2018}}</ref>

====Immigration and refugees====
In 2010, Scott ran for governor as an immigration hard-liner.<ref name=":14">{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/06/08/rick-scott-appears-to-support-curbelos-immigration-plan-but-how-would-he-vote|title=Rick Scott appears to support Curbelo's immigration plan, but how would he vote?|last=Bousquet|first=Steve|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2018-08-29|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":13"/> At the time, he favored similar laws as Arizona's controversial Arizona SB 1070 which targeted illegal immigrants, and criticized Florida lawmakers for not being tougher on illegal immigrants.<ref name=":15">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/us/05florida.html|title=Florida Republicans Unite to Pass Immigration Bill|last=Alvarez|first=Lizette|work=The New York Times |date=May 5, 2011 |access-date=2018-08-29|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":14"/> Scott called for police to check individuals' immigration status.<ref name=":15" /> By 2014, ''PolitiFact'' wrote that Scott had "abandoned promises to get tough on illegal immigration."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politifact.com/florida/article/2014/sep/05/rating-gov-rick-scott-his-campaign-promises|title=Rating Gov. Rick Scott on his 2010 campaign promises|first1=Joshua|last1=Gillin|first2=Angie|last2=Drobnic Holan|first3=Amy|last3=Sherman|work=PolitiFact Florida|access-date=2018-08-29}}</ref> Over time, he moderated his views on immigration.<ref name=":13"/>

In 2011, Scott opposed giving in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, but reversed course in 2014 and signed a bill giving DREAMers in-state tuition in an effort to place limits on how much state institutions can raise tuition each year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/international/Rick_Scott_Immigration.htm|title=Rick Scott on Immigration|website=www.ontheissues.org|access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/06/09/florida-gov-rick-scott-signs-in-state-tuition-bill-for-dreamers|title=Florida Gov. Rick Scott Signs In-State Tuition Bill for 'Dreamers'|author=Fox, Lauren|work=U.S. News & World Report|date=June 9, 2014|access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> In 2013, Scott vetoed legislation that would have given DACA-eligible immigrants the ability to obtain temporary driving licenses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/florida-gov-rick-scott-vetos-immigrant-drivers-licenses/story?id=19329999|title=License Bill Vetoed Despite Support|author=Fabian, Jordan|date=2013-06-05|website=ABC News|access-date=2018-08-29}}</ref><ref name=":16"/> By 2018, he spoke in favor of giving DREAMers a path to citizenship.<ref name=":14"/>

In June 2018, Scott opposed the [[Trump administration family separation policy]], which involved separating children from their parents, relatives, or other adults who accompanied them in crossing the border, sending the parents to federal jails and placing children and infants under the supervision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In a letter to [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services|United States secretary of health and human services]] [[Alex Azar]], Scott wrote: "I have been very clear that I absolutely do not agree with the practice of separating children from their families. This practice needs to stop now."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Caputo|first1=Marc|last2=Glorioso|first2=Alexandra|title=Scott slams Trump family separation policy, demands answers from HHS|url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/06/19/scott-slams-trump-nelson-on-family-separation-crisis-demands-answers-from-hhs-476959|access-date=June 20, 2018|publisher=Politico|date=June 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bousquet|first1=Steve|last2=Leary|first2=Alex|title=Florida Republicans split on detaining children. Some stay with Trump, others object|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article213491704.html|access-date=June 20, 2018|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=June 19, 2018}}</ref>

Scott's administration awarded [[Comprehensive Health Services, Inc.]] (CHSi) a tax incentive package of $600,000 to expand in [[Cape Canaveral, Florida]]. CHSi runs the [[Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children]] which detains minor migrants, including those separated from families at the border.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/these-companies-make-money-from-the-homestead-miami-migrant-camp-11060995|title=Here's a List of Companies Making Money From Miami's Child-Migrant Detention Camp|last=Iannelli|first=Jerry|date=2019-01-27|website=Miami New Times|access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref>

==== LGBTQ rights ====
In 2022, Scott voted against the [[Respect for Marriage Act]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mourtoupalas and Blanco |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Here's which senators voted for or against the Respect for Marriage Act |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2022/senator-vote-count-respect-for-marriage-act/}}</ref>

====Medical marijuana====

After voters approved a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana, Scott signed a bill passed by the legislature which allowed the use of medical marijuana but not smokeable medical marijuana.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.apnews.com/d4253f9e0bb3477c99d9c8dda964a9b2/Lawyer:-Florida-governor-should-end-medical-marijuana-appeal|title=Lawyer: Florida governor should end medical marijuana appeal|author=Reedy, Joe|work=Associated Press|access-date=2018-06-14|language=en-US}}</ref> A judge ruled the ban on smokeable medical marijuana unconstitutional.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://floridapolitics.com/archives/266294-rick-scott-talks-pot-donald-trump|title=Rick Scott talks pot, Donald Trump|author=McAuliffe, Danny|date=2018-06-13|work=Florida Politics|access-date=2018-06-14}}</ref> Scott appealed the decision.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/05/29/john-morgan-tells-gov-scott-drop-appeal-in-smokeable-medical-marijuana-case/|title=John Morgan tells Gov. Scott: Drop appeal in smokeable medical marijuana case|last=Koh|first=Elizabeth|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2018-06-14|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/06/02/battle-rages-between-rick-scott-john-morgan-over-smokable-medical-marijuana/|title=Battle rages between Rick Scott, John Morgan over smokable medical marijuana|last=Bousquet|first=Steve|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2018-06-14}}</ref>

====Predictive policing====
On September 3, 2020, the ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' released an investigative report into Scott-appointed Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco's "predictive policing" program, which relies on unproven algorithms. The program is designed to use counter-terrorism and other military "intelligence" tactics to prevent property damage. Nocco was a Republican insider with limited law enforcement experience at the time he was appointed by Scott, in 2011.<ref name="targeted">{{cite web |last1=McGrory |first1=Kathleen |last2=Bedi |first2=Neil |date=September 3, 2020 |title=Targeted |url=https://projects.tampabay.com/projects/2020/investigations/police-pasco-sheriff-targeted/intelligence-led-policing/ |access-date=September 17, 2020 |work=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref>

====Redistricting amendments====
In the 2010 elections, Florida voters passed constitutional amendments banning [[gerrymandering]] of congressional and legislative districts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Florida Voters Pass Milestone Measures to End Gerrymandering|author=Mark I. Pinsky|newspaper=Politics Daily|url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/11/03/florida-voters-pass-milestone-measures-to-end-gerrymandering|date=November 3, 2010|access-date=March 20, 2015}}</ref> In February 2011, Scott withdrew a request to the [[United States Department of Justice]] to approve these amendments, which, according to ''[[The Miami Herald]]'', might delay the implementation of the redistricting plan because the [[Voting Rights Act]] requires [[Voting Rights Act#Preclearance|preclearance]] of state laws likely to affect minority representation. Scott said he wanted to make sure the redistricting was carried out properly.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scott moves to delay redistrict plan|author=Steve Bousquet|newspaper=The Miami Herald|date=January 25, 2011|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/25/2034274/scott-moves-to-delay-redistrict.html|access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref>

Several advocacy groups {{which|date=March 2019}} sued Scott in federal court to compel him to resubmit the acts to the Justice Department.{{clarify|date=May 2018}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Gov. Rick Scott sued over decision to halt federal review over redistricting standards|author=Mary Ellen Klas|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=February 3, 2011|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/gov-rick-scott-sued-over-decision-to-halt-federal-review-over/1149426|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924145624/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/gov-rick-scott-sued-over-decision-to-halt-federal-review-over/1149426|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><!-- RESULTS OF THESE LAWSUITS FILED BY "ADVOCACY GROUPS"?? -->

====Transportation====
On February 16, 2011, Scott rejected $2.3 billion in federal funding to develop [[high-speed rail]] between Tampa and Orlando. He cited California's experience with high-speed rail, namely much lower than expected ridership and cost overruns that doubled the final price.<ref>Williams, Timothy. [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/us/17rail.html "Florida's Governor Rejects High-Speed Rail Line, Fearing Cost to Taxpayers"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 16, 2011; retrieved February 19, 2011.</ref> In response, a veto-proof majority in the [[Florida Senate]] approved a letter rebuking Scott and asking the Department of Transportation to continue funding. On March 1, 2011, two Florida state senators filed a petition with the [[Supreme Court of Florida|Florida Supreme Court]] to compel Scott to accept the rail funds on the grounds that he lacked constitutional authority to reject funds that had been approved by a prior legislature.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tracy|first1=Dan|last2=Schlueb|first2=Mark|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-high-speed-rail-lawsuit-20110301,0,1435007.story|title=Two lawmakers ask high court to force Scott to take high-speed rail money|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=March 1, 2011|access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref> On March 4, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that Scott's rejection of the rail funds did not violate the [[Constitution of Florida]].<ref>Kastenbaum, Steve. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120430004632/https://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/03/04/florida.high.speed.rail/index.html "Florida high-speed train project derailed; Court rules for Scott"], cnn.com, March 4, 2011; retrieved February 24, 2016.</ref>

In March 2011, Scott moved to have the Florida Department of Transportation amend its work plan to include $77 million for dredging [[PortMiami]] to a depth of 50 feet. Once the port is [[dredged]], [[Panamax]]-sized vessels coming through the expanded [[Panama Canal]] could load and unload cargo there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/economicdevelopment/gov-rick-scott-promises-77-million-for-port-of-miami-project/1155251|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309141758/http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/economicdevelopment/gov-rick-scott-promises-77-million-for-port-of-miami-project/1155251|archive-date=2011-03-09|title=Gov. Rick Scott promises $77 million for Port of Miami project|author=Clark, Lesley|publisher=Tampabay.com|date=May 30, 2011|access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref>

In 2018, Scott reversed course and supported a high-speed rail project between Tampa and Orlando when the company [[Brightline|All Aboard Florida]] sought to get taxpayer-backed funding from state and federal governments. He argued that new budget surpluses following the recession could help fund the project. Scott and his wife had invested at least $3 million in the parent company of All Aboard Florida, which had made donations to Scott's political campaigns.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |author=Klas, Mary Ellen |date=August 16, 2018 |title=Rick Scott killed a high-speed rail plan. Then All Aboard rolled up and he bought it. |url=http://amp.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article216640190.html |access-date=2018-08-27 |work=Miami Herald}}</ref>

====Voting rights====
Scott frequently sought to implement voter IDs as governor, with numerous courts ruling against him in voting rights cases.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |author=Bousquet, Steve |date=April 18, 2018 |title=Rick Scott has made enemies over voting rights – now it's an issue in his Senate race |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article209235744.html |access-date=2018-04-19 |work=Miami Herald}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/07/25/a-day-after-judge-rules-counties-seek-to-hold-early-voting-on-campus/|title=A day after judge blasts state, counties act fast to hold early voting on campus|last=Bousquet|first=Steve|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2018-07-25}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/07/24/judge-faults-state-and-approves-early-voting-on-college-university-campuses|title=Judge: Florida's early voting-on-campus ban shows 'stark pattern of discrimination'|last=Bousquet|first=Steve|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2018-07-25}}</ref> He signed into law bills that created barriers to registering new voters, limited [[Early voting#United States|early voting]], ended early voting on the Sunday before Election Day (known as "souls to the polls" in African-American churches), and restricted the ability of ex-felons to restore their voting rights. In 2012, Scott attempted to purge non-citizens from voter rolls just before the election; a court stopped him from doing so, and it was revealed that legitimate voters were on the voter rolls. ''The Tampa Bay Times'' noted that under Scott's tenure, Florida had the longest voting lines of any state in the 2012 election. After harsh criticism, he expanded early voting hours, and allowed early voting on the Sunday before Election Day.<ref name=":0"/> Florida's then Secretary of State [[Ken Detzner]] later remarked the voter roll purge "should" and "could" have been better.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-07 |title=Rick Scott finally admits 2012 voter purge was flawed |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna53212271 |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> 

In 2016, Scott refused to extend registration deadlines after ordering evacuations due to [[Hurricane Matthew]]; courts ultimately extended the deadline. He signed legislation into law that rejected mail ballots where signatures on the ballot envelope did not match signatures in files; in 2016 a court struck down the law. In 2014, Scott blocked a request by the city of Gainesville to use a facility at the [[University of Florida, Gainesville|University of Florida]] as a site for early voting.<ref name=":0"/> In July 2018, a judge ruled against Scott's prohibition of early voting on campus, saying the ban showed a "stark pattern of discrimination."<ref name=":2"/><ref name=":6"/> In 2013, Scott ordered Pinellas County to close down sites where voters could submit mail ballots. In 2012, a court ruled that Scott could not place heavy fines on groups that registered voters but failed to submit the registrations within 48 hours.<ref name=":0"/> 

Scott rolled back automatic restoration of rights for nonviolent crimes, giving former felons a five- to six-year waiting period before they can apply for a restoration of voting rights. Of the approximately 30,000 applications from former felons to have their voting rights restored during his tenure, Scott approved approximately 3,000.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |author=Pickett, Alex |date=2018-05-31 |title=In Florida, Long Fight for Restored Vote Often Ends in Minutes |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/in-florida-long-fight-for-restored-vote-often-ends-in-minutes/ |access-date=2018-06-02 |work=Courthouse News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> A 2018 investigation by the ''[[The Palm Beach Post|Palm Beach Post]]'' found that during his governorship, Scott restored the voting rights of three times as many white men as black men, and that blacks accounted only for 27% of those granted voting rights despite blacks being 43% of those released from state prisons in the past 20 years. The percentage of blacks among those whose voting rights were restored was the lowest in more than 50 years, and Scott restored a higher share of Republican voting rights than Democratic voting rights than in almost 50 years.<ref name=":19">{{Cite news |last=Ramadan |first=Lulu |title=Florida felon voting rights: Who got theirs back under Scott? |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20181025/florida-felon-voting-rights-who-got-theirs-back-under-scott |access-date=2018-10-25 |work=The Palm Beach Post}}</ref> A clemency board set up by Scott held hearings on applications, but there were no standards on how to judge the worthiness of individual applications. In March 2017, seven former felons filed a class action lawsuit arguing that the clemency board's decisions were inconsistent, vague and political.<ref name=":1"/>

In February 2018, a U.S. District Court described Scott's process as arbitrary and unconstitutional, and ruled that he had to create a new process to restore felons' voting rights.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1"/> The ruling said that Scott and his clemency board had "unfettered discretion" to deny voting rights "for any reason," and that "to vote again, disenfranchised citizens must kowtow before a panel of high-level government officials over which Florida's governor has absolute veto authority. No standards guide the panel. Its members alone must be satisfied that these citizens deserve restoration."<ref name=":1"/> [[Brennan Center for Justice|The Brennan Center for Justice]] described the clemency rules issued by Scott in 2011 as among the most restrictive in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/voting-rights-restoration-efforts-florida|title=Voting Rights Restoration Efforts in Florida {{!}} Brennan Center for Justice|website=brennancenter.org|language=en|access-date=2018-06-20}}</ref>

==U.S. Senate==

=== Elections ===

====2018 ====
{{Main|2018 United States Senate election in Florida}}
After months of speculation about a potential run, Scott officially announced on April 9, 2018, that he would challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator [[Bill Nelson]] in the 2018 election.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pathe|first1=Simone|title=Florida Gov. Rick Scott Announces Senate Campaign|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/florida-gov-rick-scott-announces-senate-campaign|access-date=13 April 2018|publisher=Roll Call|date=April 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Mazzei|first1=Patricia|title=Rick Scott Senate Run Returns Florida to Battleground|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/09/us/florida-rick-scott-senate.html|access-date=13 April 2018|newspaper=New York Times|date=April 9, 2018}}</ref>

Scott defeated [[Rocky De La Fuente]] in the Republican primary.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/28/us/elections/florida-primary-elections.html|title=Florida Primary Election Results|work=The New York Times|date=August 28, 2018 |access-date=August 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/08/28/scott-senate-republican-primary-florida/1000053002/|title=Rick Scott wins GOP primary for Florida's U.S. Senate seat; faces Bill Nelson Nov. 6|author=Fineout, Gary|work=TCPalm|access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> In the general election, Scott's involvement in a large Medicare fraud case stirred controversy.<ref name="fungus"/><ref name=":17">{{cite web|url=http://floridapolitics.com/archives/275845-rick-scotts-campaign-out-ad-rebuts-democrats-on-medicare-fraud-scandal|title=Rick Scott's campaign ad rebuts Democrats on Medicare fraud scandal|author=Powers, Scott|website=floridapolitics.com|date=September 26, 2018|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-29}}</ref> Scott responded with ads accusing Nelson of having cut Medicare benefits and stolen from Medicare; fact-checkers found that both of Scott's assertions were false.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2018/aug/16/rick-scott/nelson-wasnt-paying-payroll-taxes-because-he-didnt|title=Nelson didn't pay payroll taxes. He didn't have to.|author=Akin, Katie|work=Politifact|date=August 16, 2018|access-date=2018-09-29|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":17"/> During the campaign, Scott called Nelson a "socialist", an assertion PolitiFact described as "pants-on-fire" false.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2018/sep/27/rick-scott/gov-rick-scotts-ridiculous-statement-sen-bill-nels/|title=Gov. Rick Scott wrongly calls Sen. Bill Nelson a socialist|author=Sherman, Amy|work=Politifact|date=September 27, 2018|access-date=2018-09-29}}</ref> Scott sought to avoid mentioning Trump and at times criticized or distanced himself from actions of the Trump administration, whereas in the past he had used his friendship with Trump to boost his profile and had been an early and vocal supporter of Trump in 2016.<ref name=":9" /> Trump endorsed Scott for Senate.<ref name=":10" />

The initial election results showed Scott leading Nelson by 12,562 votes, or 0.15% of the vote. Under Florida law, a manual recount is triggered if election results show a margin of less than 0.5% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1459298/recount-florida-has-5-days-to-tally-more-than-8-million-ballots/|title=Recount: Florida has five days to tally more than 8 million ballots|first=Ephrat|last=Livni|website=Quartz|date=November 10, 2018 |access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref> Both candidates filed lawsuits in connection with the recount. After the recount, Florida elections officials announced on November 18, 2018, that Scott had prevailed. Scott received 50.05% of the vote to Nelson's 49.93%; the margin of victory was 10,033 votes out of 8.19 million votes cast. Nelson then conceded.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-florida-senate-idUSKCN1NN0QC|title=Republican Scott secures Florida U.S. Senate seat after recount|work=Reuters|author=Woodall, Bernie|date=November 18, 2018|access-date=2018-11-18}}</ref> It was the most expensive Senate race in the nation in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/11/18/668704045/republican-rick-scott-wins-florida-senate-race-as-recount-comes-to-an-end|title=Republican Rick Scott Wins Florida Senate Seat Over Incumbent Bill Nelson|author=Taylor, Jessica|website=NPR.org|date=November 18, 2018|access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref> After the race, Scott's [[Super-PAC|Super PAC]], New Republican PAC, received criticism from across the political spectrum for its aggressive practices and was the subject of several FEC complaints for multiple violations of federal election law;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leary |first=Alex |date=23 August 2018 |title=Rick Scott's involvement with super PAC shows blurred lines |url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/08/23/rick-scotts-involvement-with-super-pac-shows-blurred-lines/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-09-10|title=New elections complaint for Rick Scott 'New Republican' PAC|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/274358-new-elections-complaint-for-rick-scott-new-republican-pac/|access-date=2021-04-18|website=[[Florida Politics]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-26|title=Ethics group files complaint against pro-Rick Scott PAC|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/269895-ethics-group-rick-scott-pac/|access-date=2021-04-18|website=[[Florida Politics]]|language=en-US}}</ref> the Super PAC's finances are chaired by hedge fund billionaire [[Kenneth C. Griffin|Ken Griffin]], who personally donated at least $10 million to the PAC.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dixon|first=Matt|title=Super PAC backing Scott's Senate effort raises $7M|url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/10/17/super-pac-backing-scotts-senate-effort-raises-7m-655366|access-date=2021-04-18|website=Politico PRO|date=October 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=RobertsJune 7|first1=Ray|last2=Pm|first2=2018 at 12:47|date=2018-06-07|title=Chicago billionaire Ken Griffin named finance chair for Rick Scott's super PAC|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/265653-chicago-billionaire-ken-griffin-named-finance-director-for-rick-scotts-super-pac/|access-date=2021-04-18|website=[[Florida Politics]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Organizations Disclosing Donations to New Republican PAC, 2018 {{!}} OpenSecrets|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/contrib_all.php?cmte=C00544544&type=A&cycle=2018|access-date=2021-04-18|website=www.opensecrets.org}}</ref>

====2024 ====
{{Main|2024 United States Senate election in Florida}}
Scott ran for a second Senate term.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Caputo |first1=Marc |title=Sen. Rick Scott is running for re-election pushing his controversial 'Rescue' plan |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/rick-scott-running-re-election-senate-rcna67094 |website=NBC News |date=January 26, 2023 |access-date=26 January 2023}}</ref> He defeated Democratic nominee [[Debbie Mucarsel-Powell]], a former congresswoman.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dixon |first1=Matt |title=Sen. Rick Scott picks up a Democratic challenger for 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/rep-debbie-mucarsel-powell-challening-rick-scott-senate-2024-rcna101023 |website=NBC News |date=August 22, 2023 |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref>{{update after|2024|11|9}}
<!-- apparently involved in politicking, ff the election, for Senate leadership position(s) -->

===Tenure===
The Senate term for the [[116th United States Congress|116th Congress]] began on January 3, 2019, but Scott's term as governor ended on January 8. On December 4, 2018, Scott's office announced that he would finish his term as governor and not resign early.<ref name="swearing in delay" /> Scott attended the ceremonial swearing-in of his successor as governor, [[Ron DeSantis]], on the morning of January 8, 2019, in front of Florida's historic Old Capitol.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/republican-desantis-to-be-sworn-in-as-floridas-new-governor/2019/01/08/648bf8ae-130b-11e9-ab79-30cd4f7926f2_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108090853/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/republican-desantis-to-be-sworn-in-as-floridas-new-governor/2019/01/08/648bf8ae-130b-11e9-ab79-30cd4f7926f2_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2019|title=Republican DeSantis sworn in as Florida's new governor|author1=Brendan Farrington |author2=Gary Fineout |agency=Associated Press|date=January 8, 2019}}</ref> Scott left the ceremony early to fly to Washington, D.C., and was sworn in to the Senate by [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Mike Pence]] later that afternoon.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/floridas-rick-scott-sworn-in-as-senator/2019/01/08/6a386498-1385-11e9-b6ad-9cfd62dbb0a8_story.html|title=Florida's Rick Scott sworn in as senator|author=Felicia Sonmez|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 8, 2019}}</ref><ref name="swearing in delay"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wptv.com/news/state/rick-scott-sworn-in-as-florida-senator|title=Rick Scott sworn in as Florida Senator|date=January 8, 2019|website=WPTV}}</ref>

==== Trump administration ====
[[File:Trump, Senators Scott and Rubio talking about Venezuela.jpg|thumb|right|Scott, President [[Donald Trump]], and Senator [[Marco Rubio]] aboard [[Air Force One]] in 2019.]]
In January 2019, Scott encouraged Trump to declare a national emergency to build a border wall if Congress would not give him the funds to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://floridapolitics.com/archives/287019-rick-scott-to-donald-trump-should-use-executive-power-on-border|title=Rick Scott: Donald Trump should use executive power on border|last=Powers|first=Scott|date=January 31, 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref> In February 2019, when Trump declared a national emergency, Scott applauded the decision.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/288465-rick-scott-applauds-donald-trumps-decision-to-declare-national-emergency-democrats-rail|title=Rick Scott applauds Donald Trump's decision to declare national emergency; Democrats rail|last=Powers|first=Scott|date=February 15, 2019|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref>

In April 2019, amid calls for an American military intervention in [[Venezuela]], Scott said that the [[Nicolás Maduro|Maduro]] regime was perpetrating a "genocide" and that the U.S. was "not aggressive enough" about the situation. Fact-checkers and experts described Scott's assertion of a genocide as false and misguided.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article230230569.html|title=Rick Scott is using a word to describe Venezuela that no one else is. Is he right?|last=By|website=miamiherald|language=en|access-date=2019-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2019/may/16/rick-scott/problem-using-word-genocide-describe-venezuela/|title=The problem with calling Venezuela's crisis under Maduro a genocide|website=Politifact|first1=Louis|last1=Jacobson|first2=Amy|last2=Sherman|language=en|date=May 16, 2019|access-date=2019-05-17}}</ref> Scott called on the U.S. to position its military assets to be prepared to respond to events in Venezuela.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-30/venezuela-us-military-scott|title=Florida Senator on Venezuela: Time to Position U.S. Military|author=Levin, Jonathan|work=Bloomberg|date=2019-05-17|access-date=2019-05-17|language=en}}</ref>

In May 2020, Scott voted for an amendment co-sponsored by Senators [[Steve Daines]] and [[Ron Wyden]] that would have required federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies to obtain federal court warrants when collecting [[web search engine]] data from American citizens, nationals, or residents under the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act]] (FISA).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theintercept.com/2018/01/20/surveillance-bill-fisa-section-702-donald-trump/|title=Senate Democrats Defend Voting In Line with Donald Trump on NSA Surveillance Bill |website=www.theintercept.com|date=January 20, 2018 |access-date=May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=2&vote=00089|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 116th Congress - 2nd Session|website=www.senate.gov|access-date=May 1, 2021}}</ref>

After [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] Justice [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]] died on September 18, 2020, Scott sided with Senator [[Mitch McConnell]] and called on her replacement to be voted on before [[2020 United States presidential election|that year's presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article245850675.html|title=Rick Scott wants a vote for Ruth Bader Ginsburg's replacement before Election Day|work=[[Miami Herald]]|first=Alex|last=Daugherty|date=September 18, 2020|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref>

After Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election while making false claims of fraud, Scott [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count#Joint session of Congress|voted to object]] to seating the electors from Pennsylvania but voted against the other objection raised for seating the electors from Arizona. Both objections were rejected by the Senate, 92–7 and 93–6, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress - 1st Session|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00002|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.senate.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress - 1st Session|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00001|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.senate.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Baitinger|first=Anthony Man, Brooke|title=Florida Sen. Rick Scott votes to uphold objection to Pennsylvania results; Marco Rubio rejects objection there and in Arizona|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/elections/fl-ne-congress-electoral-college-rubio-scott-flordia-delegation-20210106-fwj7rabi65bddjlraivhu6vrnm-story.html|access-date=2021-01-12|website=sun-sentinel.com|date=January 7, 2021 }}</ref>

==== Biden administration ====

In April 2021, Scott ran unopposed for the chairmanship of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] and was formally selected on November 10, 2020, succeeding Senator [[Todd Young]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/2020/11/10/senate-gop-picks-floridas-rick-scott-as-nrsc-chairman/|title=Senate GOP picks Florida's Rick Scott as NRSC chairman|first=Bridget|last=Bowman|work=[[Roll Call]]|date=November 10, 2020|access-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cockburn |title=Lizard man loses national conservatives |url=https://spectatorworld.com/topic/lizard-man-loses-national-conservatives/ |work=spectatorworld.com |publisher=Press Holdings |date=September 12, 2022 |issn=0038-6952 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912203529/https://spectatorworld.com/topic/lizard-man-loses-national-conservatives/ |archive-date=September 12, 2022 |location=London |oclc=1766325}}</ref>

In March 2021, Scott voted against the [[American Rescue Plan Act of 2021|American Rescue Plan Act]]; after it passed, he called upon Florida and other states to reject federal assistance from the package.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fineout|first=Gary|title='Doesn't make any sense': DeSantis rejects Rick Scott's call to return stimulus money|url=https://politi.co/38K2lJt|access-date=2021-03-17|website=Politico PRO|date=March 16, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Senator Rick Scott and Sheriff Chad Chronister after Hurricane Milton.jpg|thumb|Scott and [[County sheriff (Florida)|Sheriff]] [[Chad Chronister]] surveying damage in [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough County]] after [[Hurricane Milton]]]]

In May 2021, Scott voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]].<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Washington Post |date=May 28, 2021 |title=Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/january6-commission-senators-vote/}}</ref>

On March 10, 2022, Scott was one of 31 Republicans to vote against a $1.5 trillion spending bill that included $13.6 billion in military assistance for Ukraine's defense, arguing that it was filled with lawmakers' "pet" projects. On March 17, he was one of more than two dozen Senate Republicans who demanded that President Biden send Ukraine more support.<ref>Alfaro, Mariana; Scott, Eugene (March 17, 2022). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/17/republicans-ukraine-aid-vote/ "More than two dozen Senate Republicans demand Biden do more for Ukraine after voting against $13.6 billion for Ukraine"]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved March 17, 2022.</ref>

Scott supported the [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|overturning of ''Roe v. Wade'']] in June 2022, saying that ''Roe v. Wade'' was "flawed legal reasoning" and that the Supreme Court had defended "human dignity" and [[federalism]].<ref name="PressRelease6242022">{{cite web |title=Sen. Rick Scott: SCOTUS is Right to Protect Life, Respect Federalism & Reverse Roe |url=https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2022/6/sen-rick-scott-scotus-is-right-to-protect-life-respect-federalism-reverse-roe |website=U.S. Senator Rick Scott |access-date=24 June 2022 |language=en |date=24 June 2022}}</ref>

In August 2022, Scott published an open letter encouraging job seekers not to apply for [[Inflation Reduction Act of 2022|newly funded positions]] at the IRS, vowing that Republicans, if they took control of Congress in January 2023, would quickly "defund" those jobs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=2022-08-18 |title=Rick Scott: don't apply for IRS jobs because Republicans will defund them |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/18/rick-scott-defund-irs-jobs-republicans-democrats |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> The letter to job seekers included the statement, "The IRS is making it very clear that you not only need to be ready to audit and investigate your fellow hardworking Americans, your neighbors and friends, you need to be ready and, to use the IRS’s words, willing, to kill them."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-16 |title=Sen. Rick Scott Pens Open Letter to Job Seekers: Don't Work for Biden's IRS Army |url=https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2022/8/sen-rick-scott-pens-open-letter-to-job-seekers-don-t-work-for-biden-s-irs-army |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=U.S. Senator Rick Scott |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kapur |first=Sahil |date=August 17, 2022 |title=Republicans escalate IRS rhetoric as senator warns Americans not to apply for new jobs |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-escalate-irs-rhetoric-senator-warns-americans-not-apply-ne-rcna43411 |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

In August 2022, [[Business Insider]] found that Scott had violated the [[STOCK Act|Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012]], a federal transparency and conflict-of-interest law that requires members of Congress to report certain types of financial transactions within 45 days, after Scott and his wife sold stock in Emida Corporation worth up to $450,000 in September 2021 and Scott did not report it until August 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Madison |last2=Levinthal |first2=Dave |date=2022-08-16 |title=2 Republicans in Congress just violated a federal conflict-of-interest and transparency law |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/stock-act-congress-republican-rick-scott-brian-mast-2022-8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330094304/https://www.businessinsider.com/stock-act-congress-republican-rick-scott-brian-mast-2022-8 |archive-date=2023-03-30 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=[[Business Insider]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Levinthal |first1=Dave |last2=Hall |first2=Madison |date=2023-01-03 |title=78 members of Congress have violated a law designed to prevent insider trading and stop conflicts-of-interest |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/congress-stock-act-violations-senate-house-trading-2021-9#sen-rick-scott-a-republican-from-florida-7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710231256/https://www.businessinsider.com/congress-stock-act-violations-senate-house-trading-2021-9 |archive-date=2024-07-10 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=[[Business Insider]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

On November 14, 2022, Scott announced he would attempt to challenge incumbent [[Mitch McConnell]] for the position of [[Senate Minority Leader]] in the [[118th United States Congress]], the first challenge McConnell had faced for the position since winning it in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zhou |first=Li |date=2022-11-16 |title=Why some Republican senators are revolting against Mitch McConnell |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/11/16/23462250/mitch-mcconnell-rick-scott-leadership-race-senate-republicans |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |language=en}}</ref> Scott said, "the status quo is broken and big change is needed" and that Senate Republican leadership needed "to listen to [Republican voters'] calls for action and start governing in Washington like we campaign back at home", in the wake of the party's failure to gain Senate seats in that year's elections.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Quinn |first1=Melissa |last2=Turman |first2=Jack |date=2022-11-15 |title=Florida Sen. Rick Scott challenges Mitch McConnell for Senate GOP leader |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rick-scott-mitch-mcconnell-senate-republican-leader/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Scott received 10 votes to McConnell's 37, with one senator voting "present".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Susan |last2=Bustillo |first2=Ximena |last3=Schapitl |first3=Lexie |last4=Swartz |first4=Katherine |date=2022-11-16 |title=McConnell wins leadership race but GOP infighting continues |work=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/11/16/1137104129/mitch-mcconnell-wins-minority-leader-rick-scott-senate-republicans |access-date=2023-01-12}}</ref> The vote was held by [[secret ballot]]; senators who publicly confirmed voting for Scott included [[Mike Braun]], [[Josh Hawley]], [[Ted Cruz]], [[Ron Johnson]], and [[Lindsey Graham]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Everett |first=Burgess |date=2022-11-16 |title='Nothing to negotiate': McConnell crushes Scott's right-flank rebellion |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/16/senate-gop-reelects-mcconnell-as-leader-00067541 |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref>

In March 2023, Scott voted against repealing the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 118th Congress - 1st Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00077.htm |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>

Scott was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage of the [[Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4031302-here-are-the-senators-who-voted-against-the-bill-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling/|title=Here are the senators who voted against the bill to raise the debt ceiling|first=Aris|last=Folley|date=June 1, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

Notable Senate bills that Scott has sponsored or co-sponsored include the [[Sunshine Protection Act]], which makes [[daylight saving time in the United States]] permanent;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rubio Reintroduces Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent |url=https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2023/3/rubio-reintroduces-bill-to-make-daylight-saving-time-permanent |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=U.S. Senator for Florida, Marco Rubio |language=en}}</ref> the [[PROTECT Kids Act]], which cuts federal funding to schools that allow students to change their [[preferred pronouns]] and keep their sexual orientation from their parents;<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-06 |title=Sens. Rick Scott, Tim Scott Reintroduce Bill to Protect Parental Rights, Combat Indoctrination in Schools |url=https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2023/2/sens.%20rick%20scott,%20tim%20scott%20reintroduce%20bill%20to%20protect%20parental%20rights,%20combat%20indoctrination%20in%20schools |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=U.S. Senator Rick Scott |language=en}}</ref> the [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022]];<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-15 |title=Sen. Rick Scott Celebrates NDAA Passage, Big Wins for Florida's Military Bases |url=https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2022/12/sen-rick-scott-celebrates-ndaa-passage-big-wins-for-florida-s-military-bases |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=U.S. Senator Rick Scott |language=en}}</ref> and the [[END FENTANYL Act]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-15 |title=Sen. Rick Scott's Bipartisan END FENTANYL Act to Help Border Patrol Stop Drug Smuggling Unanimously Passes in Senate |url=https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2022/12/sen-rick-scott-s-bipartisan-end-fentanyl-act-to-help-border-patrol-stop-drug-smuggling-unanimously-passes-in-senate |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=U.S. Senator Rick Scott |language=en}}</ref> Scott also expressed support for "automatic" capital punishment of school shooters in the wake of the [[2023 Covenant School shooting|Covenant School shooting]] in Nashville.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=Julia |date=2023-03-28 |title=Rick Scott calls for 'automatic death penalty' for school shooters |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3921670-rick-scott-calls-for-automatic-death-penalty-for-school-shooters/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2024, Scott voted against a resolution proposed by Senator [[Bernie Sanders]] that would have applied the [[Human rights violations against Palestinians by Israel|human rights]] provisions of the [[Foreign Assistance Act]] to [[Israel–United States military relations|U.S. military aid to Israel]]. The proposal was defeated, 72 to 11.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senate Kills Measure to Scrutinize Israeli Human Rights Record as Condition for Aid |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/01/16/senate-israel-human-rights-condition-aid/ |work=The Intercept |date=January 16, 2024}}</ref> [[File:Senator Rick Scott with Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, January 2025.jpg|thumb|Scott with [[Miami-Dade County]] [[County sheriff (Florida)|sheriff]] [[Rosie Cordero-Stutz]], 2025]]

==== ''Plan to Rescue America'' ====
On February 22, 2022, Scott released his controversial ''11-Point Plan to Rescue America'' in response to Democratic criticism that Republicans were unwilling to provide any kind of agenda should they win the House and/or Senate that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |date=2022-02-23 |title=Analysis: 26 things Rick Scott's 'rescue' plan for America would do |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/23/politics/rick-scott-rescue-america-plan-gop/index.html |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Morgan |first=David |date=2022-02-27 |title=U.S. senator says Republicans only deserve to govern if they adopt his agenda |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senator-says-republicans-only-deserve-govern-if-they-adopt-his-agenda-2022-02-26/ |access-date=2022-08-07}}</ref> Particularly singled out were a proposal that would force all Americans to pay at least some income tax "to have skin in the game" and one that would make all federal legislation sunset within five years. While the latter proposal did not mention any specific legislation, [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] were singled out elsewhere as programs that could be affected. Other proposals in the plan included closing the [[United States Department of Education]], punishing universities that practice [[affirmative action]], stripping all funding from [[Sanctuary city|sanctuary cities]], completing the [[Mexico–United States border wall]], reducing the size of the federal government and its workforce, mandatory [[Voter identification laws in the United States|voter ID]], increasing police funding and [[Law and order (politics)|law and order policies]], mandating the [[Pledge of Allegiance]] in schools, allowing legal action against social media platforms for [[deplatforming]], [[Transgender people in sports|banning transgender women from participating in women's sports]], banning the supposed teaching of [[critical race theory]], expanding [[Freedom of religion in the United States|religious freedom]], and various attacks on "[[woke]]ness" and [[diversity training]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Rick |date=2022-02-22 |title=An 11 Point Plan to Rescue America |url=https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000017f-1cf5-d281-a7ff-3ffd5f4a0000 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Politico}}</ref>

Democrats, including President Biden, strongly attacked the plan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Brett |date=2022-04-18 |title=White House targets Rick Scott plan on Tax Day |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/3271832-white-house-targets-rick-scott-plan-on-tax-day/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Benen |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Benen |date=2022-05-11 |title=Scott offers ugly response as Biden hits his plan like a piñata |url=https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/scott-offers-ugly-response-biden-hits-plan-pinata-rcna28285 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=MSNBC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gancarski |first=A. G. |date=2022-03-31 |title=Democrats continue assault on Rick Scott's 'Rescue America' plan |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/512933-democrats-continue-assault-on-rick-scotts-rescue-america-plan/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Florida Politics |language=en-US}}</ref> The Republican response was mixed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lesniewski |first=Niels |date=2022-05-12 |title=New senior-focused ads from Democrats hit Scott's plans for Medicare, Social Security |url=https://www.rollcall.com/2022/05/12/new-senior-focused-ads-from-democrats-focus-on-scotts-plans-for-medicare-social-security/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Roll Call |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weisman |first=Jonathan |date=2022-03-31 |title=Income Taxes for All? Rick Scott Has a Plan, and That's a Problem. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/us/politics/rick-scott.html |access-date=2022-08-07 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Senate Minority Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] criticized the provisions on income tax and sunsetting federal legislation, and Senator [[John Cornyn]] said the plan "is not an approach embraced by the entire Republican conference" and not something that should be focused on until after the election.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |last2=Levine |first2=Marianne |date=2022-03-01 |title=McConnell clashes with Rick Scott over Republican agenda |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/01/mcconnell-rick-scott-gop-agenda-00012840 |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> Senator [[Ron Johnson]] said he supported Scott for releasing his platform and agreed with most of it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=D.L. |date=2022-03-18 |title=Ron Johnson has not endorsed plan to phase out of Social Security, Medicare |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/mar/18/alex-lasry/ron-johnson-has-not-endorsed-plan-phase-out-social/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=PolitiFact |language=en-US}}</ref> Senators [[Mike Braun]] and [[Tommy Tuberville]] also praised the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=D.L. |date=2022-06-15 |title=Democrats still exaggerating GOP backing of Scott's plan on Social Security, Medicare, taxes |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/jun/15/state-democratic-party-wisconsin/democrats-still-exaggerating-gop-backing-scotts-pl/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=PolitiFact |language=en-US}}</ref>

On June 8, 2022, Scott released a revision of the plan that replaced the income tax proposal with a proposal not to provide government assistance to "able-bodied Americans under 60 [without] young children or incapacitated dependents" who are not working. He also added a 12th point containing various tax proposals and clarifying that the plan "cuts taxes",<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-08 |title=12. Cutting Taxes - Rescue America |url=https://rescueamerica.com/steps/12-cutting-taxes/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |language=en-US}}</ref> in response to Biden's criticisms of his income tax proposal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maloney |first=Emily L. |date=2022-06-09 |title=Rick Scott revises plan for more people to pay income tax after bipartisan criticism |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2022/06/09/rick-scott-revises-plan-for-more-people-to-pay-income-tax-after-bipartisan-criticism/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>

====Senate Majority Leader election====
After the November [[2024 United States elections|2024 U.S. elections]], in which Republicans carried the Senate, Scott was one of three announced candidates to be the next [[Senate Majority Leader]] in a race to replace the retiring [[Mitch McConnell]]. The others were [[John Thune]] and [[John Cornyn]].<ref name=nbc20241107>{{cite news |title=Trump's victory scrambles a three-way race for Senate Republican leader |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republican-leader-election-trump-thune-cornyn-scott-rcna179180 |work=[[NBC News]] |date=7 November 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024}}</ref><ref name=nw20241109>{{cite news |title=Could Rick Scott Replace Mitch McConnell? Senate GOP Leader Race Heats Up |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rick-scott-replace-mitch-mcconnell-senate-gop-leader-race-1983273 |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=9 November 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024}}</ref> Senator [[Mike Lee]] hosted a candidate forum on November 12. The [[2024 Senate Republican Conference leadership election|election]] was held on November 13 by secret ballot. Scott was eliminated on the first ballot with 13 votes, and Thune won on the second with 29.<ref name="nbc20241107" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bolton |first=Alexander |date=2024-11-13 |title=John Thune elected as Senate majority leader, succeeds Mitch McConnell |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4987959-senator-john-thune-elected/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== [[119th United States Congress]] Committee assignments<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: Committee Assignments of the 119th Congress |url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htm#BarrassoWY |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref> ===
* [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]] 
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel|Subcommittee on Personnel]]
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower|Subcommittee on Seapower]] (Chairman)
**[[Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Committee on the Budget]]
* [[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Special Committee on Aging]] (Chairman)
* [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Committee on Foreign Relations]]

==Net worth and investments==
Scott's net worth was estimated at {{US$|219{{nbsp}}million|link=yes}} in 2010, $84 million in 2012, and $133 million in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/rick-scott-is-worth-838m-reports-show/2129470/|title=Rick Scott is worth $83.8M, report shows|author=Bousquet, Steve|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=July 2, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wesh.com/politics/documents-reveal-gov-rick-scott-net-worth-at-1327-million/26521412|title=Documents reveal Gov. Rick Scott net worth at least $132.7 million|work=wesh.com|date=June 17, 2014|access-date=October 23, 2014}}</ref> On July 1, 2015, it was reported that Scott's net worth had grown to $147 million,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/07/gov-rick-scotts-net-worth-grows-to-147-million.html|title=Rick Scott's net worth grows to $147 million|work=Miami Herald|author=Bousquet, Steve|date=July 1, 2015|access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref> $149 million on December 31, 2016,<ref name="worth nearly">{{cite news|title=Florida Gov. Rick Scott Worth Nearly $150 Million|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/florida/articles/2017-06-30/florida-gov-rick-scott-worth-nearly-150-million|agency=Associated Press|first=Gary|last=Fineout|date=June 30, 2017}}</ref> and $232 million on December 31, 2017.<ref name="worth soared">{{cite web|title=Rick Scott's new worth tops $232 million|url=http://floridapolitics.com/archives/267754-rick-scotts-new-worth-tops-232-million|publisher=Florida Politics|first=Peter|last=Schorsch|date=June 30, 2018|access-date=June 30, 2018}}</ref> For August 2018, his net worth was estimated at $255 million.<ref name="Bousquet">{{cite news |last1=Bousquet |first1=Steve |last2=Klas |first2=Mary Ellen |title=Rick Scott reveals highest-ever family assets of at least $255 million |url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/07/27/rick-scott-reveals-highest-ever-family-assets-of-at-least-255-million/ |access-date=7 October 2021 |work=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref> Based on financial disclosure reports covering 2020, [[Business Insider]] reports that Scott has a minimum net worth of just over $200 million, making him the wealthiest member of Congress.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Madison |last2=Wang |first2=Angela |date=December 14, 2021 |title=Meet the 25 wealthiest members of Congress |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/wealthiest-members-congress-house-senate-finances-2021-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710070624/https://www.businessinsider.com/wealthiest-members-congress-house-senate-finances-2021-12 |archive-date=2024-07-10 |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=[[Business Insider]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Creation of "blind trust"===
Early in his gubernatorial tenure, Scott said he created a blind trust for his holdings to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. In October 2018, ''The New York Times'' reported that the trust in question was blind in name only, and that there were various ways in which Scott could know what his precise holdings were. The holdings in question included investments in companies and funds that Scott could have had an impact on through his administration's policies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/us/rick-scott-conflicts-blind-trust.html|title=To Avoid Conflicts, Rick Scott Created a Trust Blind in Name Only|first1=Kevin|last1=Sack|first2=Patricia|last2=Mazzell|work=The New York Times|date=October 17, 2018|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en}}</ref> The trust in question was managed by one of Scott's former personal assistants from before he became governor.<ref name=":18">{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/10/19/revealed-rick-scotts-financial-link-to-botched-sunpass-contract|title=Revealed: Rick Scott's financial link to botched SunPass contract|last=Bousquet|first=Steve|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2018-10-24}}</ref>

In February 2019, Scott announced that he would no longer keep his holdings in a trust.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/02/11/rick-scott-wont-put-his-wealth-in-a-blind-trust-anymore/|title=Rick Scott won't put his wealth in a blind trust anymore|last=Contorno|first=Steve|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref>

===Controversial investments===
In 2017, Scott and his wife held stocks in firms that did business with the [[Nicolás Maduro|Maduro]] government in Venezuela and a shipping firm with close ties to Russia.<ref name="bousquet"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article215916110.html|title=Florida Gov. Rick Scott's trust held investment linked to Putin|author=Bousquet, Steve|work=Miami Herald|date=August 1, 2018|access-date=2018-08-28}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/08/07/rick-scott-invested-in-firms-that-did-business-with-venezuelan-regime/|title=Rick Scott told Florida not to invest in companies linked to Venezuela, but he did.|work=Tampa Bay Times|author=Bousquet, Steve|date=August 7, 2018|access-date=2018-08-28}}</ref> Scott had been a harsh critic of the Maduro regime and chastised companies that invested in Venezuela, saying, "Any organization that does business with the Maduro regime cannot do business with the state of Florida."<ref name=":12"/> By 2018, Scott and his wife no longer held stocks in the firms with links to Russia or Venezuela.<ref name=bousquet/>

In a July 2018 financial disclosure statement, Scott and his wife reported earnings of at least $2.9 million in hedge funds registered in the [[Cayman Islands]], a well-known [[tax haven]]. The financial statement said that the assets were held in a [[blind trust]] and a 2018 campaign spokesperson said Scott did not have a role in selecting particular investments.<ref name=bousquet>{{cite news |last1=Bousquet |first1=Steve|title=Rick and Ann Scott's financial trail leads to Cayman Islands tax haven|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article217391445.html|access-date=August 29, 2018|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=August 27, 2018}}</ref>

Scott and his wife invested at least $3 million in the parent company of All Aboard Florida, a rail investment company that proposed to build high-speed rail between Orlando and Tampa.<ref name=":7"/><ref name=":11">{{Cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article217391445.html|title=Rick and Ann Scott's financial trail leads to Cayman Islands tax haven|work=miamiherald|access-date=2018-08-28|language=en}}</ref> In 2018, Scott supported the efforts of the company to build the rail and get taxpayer-financing. He had previously, early in his tenure as governor, rejected $2.3 billion in federal funding to develop high-speed rail between Tampa and Orlando. Scott stated the original project was fiscally irresponsible given the recession, and he supported a [[public-private partnership]] approach when the state's finances were in order.<ref name=":7"/>

Scott was an investor in the firm [[Conduent]] Inc., which was awarded a $287 million Florida contract in 2015 to manage [[SunPass]], the toll program in the state of Florida. Due to glitches in SunPass, motorists were charged bank fees and overdraft charges, and the Florida Department of Transportation was criticized for failing to take action. Scott, a Conduent investor, defended the department's handling of the SunPass controversy.<ref name=":18"/>

=== IRS leak ===
Scott revealed that he was among the victims of [[Charles E. Littlejohn]]'s IRS tax data leak that targeted people of high net worth when he wrote a letter to [[Merrick Garland]] protesting the single felony charge. Speaking in court in 2024, Scott testified, "every American is a victim here" and said the plea agreement was a political scheme.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Legare |first=Robert |date=2024-01-29 |title=Ex-IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn, who admitted leaking Trump's tax records, sentenced to 5 years in prison - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-irs-contractor-charles-littlejohn-trumps-tax-records-sentenced/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
[[File:Ann Scott (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Scott's wife, [[Ann Scott (First Lady of Florida)|Ann Holland]]]]
On April 20, 1972, Scott, then aged 19, married his high school sweetheart, [[Ann Scott (First Lady of Florida)|Frances Annette Holland]] (born May 11, 1952), who was also 19 years old. The couple has two daughters and six grandsons.<ref name="JBJ-17Apr06" /> They live in [[Naples, Florida]], and are founding members of Naples Community Church.<ref name="biopage">[http://www.rickscottforflorida.com/about Rick Scott biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019232510/http://www.rickscottforflorida.com/about/|date=October 19, 2011}}, rickscottforflorida.com; accessed June 7, 2014.</ref>

=== Swatting ===
Scott was [[Swatting|swatted]] in December as part of the [[2023 swatting of American politicians]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-29 |title=Sen. Rick Scott says Naples home was 'swatted' while at dinner with his wife |url=https://www.wptv.com/news/political/sen-rick-scott-says-naples-home-was-swatted-while-at-dinner-with-his-wife |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm |language=en}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2010 Florida gubernatorial election (Republican primary)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/2010/maps/#/Governor/2010/FL|title=The 2010 Results Maps|website=POLITICO}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = '''Rick Scott'''
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = '''595,474'''
| percentage = '''46.4%'''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Bill McCollum]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 557,427
| percentage = 43.4%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mike McCalister
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 130,056
| percentage = 10.1%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,282,957
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[2010 Florida gubernatorial election]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=11/2/2010&DATAMODE=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003141022/https://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=11%2F2%2F2010&DATAMODE=|url-status=dead|title=Florida Department of State - Election Results|archive-date=October 3, 2011}}</ref>}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Rick Scott / [[Jennifer Carroll]]
  |votes      = 2,619,335
  |percentage = 48.87%
  |change     = −3.31%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Alex Sink]] / [[Rod Smith (politician)|Rod Smith]]
  |votes      = 2,557,785
  |percentage = 47.72%
  |change     = +2.62%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Independence Party of Florida
  |candidate  = Peter Allen
  |votes      = 123,831
  |percentage = 2.31%
  |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Independent politician 
  |candidate  = C. C. Reed
  |votes      = 18,842
  |percentage = 0.35%
  |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Independent politician
  |candidate  = {{interlanguage link|Michael E. Arth|de|Michael Edward Arth|es||fr||ja|マイケル・アース|zh|米高·亞瑟}}
  |votes      = 18,644
  |percentage = 0.35%
  |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Independent politician
  |candidate  = Daniel Imperato
  |votes      = 13,690
  |percentage = 0.26%
  |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Independent politician
  |candidate  = Farid Khavari
  |votes      = 7,487
  |percentage = 0.14%
  |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link
  |votes      = 121
  |percentage = 0.00%
  |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box plurality
  |votes      = 61,550
  |percentage = 1.15%
  |change     = −5.92%
}}
{{Election box total
  |votes      = 5,359,735
  |percentage = 100.0%
  |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing
 |winner = Republican Party (United States)
 |loser = Independent politician
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2014 Florida gubernatorial election (Republican primary)<ref name=PrimaryResults>{{cite web|title=Governor|url=http://enight.elections.myflorida.com/StateOffices/Governor/|website=Florida Election Watch|publisher=Florida Division of Elections|access-date=September 3, 2014}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Rick Scott (Incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 831,887
| percentage = 87.65%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 100,496
| percentage = 10.59%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Yinka Adeshina
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 16,761
| percentage = 1.77%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 949,144
| percentage= 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |title= [[2014 Florida gubernatorial election]]<ref name="auto"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = {{nowrap|Rick Scott / [[Carlos López-Cantera]] (incumbent)}}
   |votes      = 2,865,343
   |percentage = 48.14%
   |change = −0.73%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = [[Charlie Crist]] / [[Annette Taddeo]]
   |votes      = 2,801,198
   |percentage = 47.07%
   |change     = −0.65%
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
   |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
   |candidate  = [[Adrian Wyllie]] / Greg Roe
   |votes      = 223,356
   |percentage = 3.75%
   |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
   |party      = Independent
   |candidate  = Glenn Burkett / Jose Augusto Matos
   |votes      = 41,341
   |percentage = 0.70%
   |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
   |party      = Independent
   |candidate  = Farid Khavari / Lateresa A. Jones
   |votes      = 20,186
   |percentage = 0.34%
   |change     = +0.20%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link
   |votes      = 137
   |percentage = 0.00%
   |change     = 0.00%
}}
{{Election box total
  |votes      = 5,951,571
  |percentage = 100.0%
  |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title = 2018 United States Senate election in Florida (Republican primary)<ref>{{cite web|title=2018 Florida primary election results|url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/Index.asp?ElectionDate=8/28/2018&DATAMODE=|website=Florida Department of State.}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Rick Scott
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,456,187
| percentage = 88.61%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Rocky De La Fuente]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 187,209
| percentage = 11.39%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,643,396
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin
| title = [[2018 United States Senate election in Florida]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://floridaelectionwatch.gov/FederalOffices/USSenator|title=Florida Election Watch – US Senator|website=floridaelectionwatch.gov}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| candidate = Rick Scott
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,099,505
| percentage = 50.06%
| change = +7.82%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| candidate = [[Bill Nelson]] (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 4,089,472
| percentage = 49.93%
| change = −5.30%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link
| votes = 607
| percentage = <0.01%
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 8,190,005
| percentage = 100.0%
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing
 | winner = Republican Party (United States)
 | loser  = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2024 United States Senate Election in  Florida (Republican primary)<ref name="prim1">{{cite web |title=August 20, 2024 Primary Election - Official Results |url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/Index.asp?ElectionDate=8/20/2024&DATAMODE= |website=Florida Department of State}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=[[Rick Scott]] (incumbent)|votes=1,283,904|percentage=84.38%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Keith Gross|votes=142,392|percentage=9.36%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=John Columbus|votes=95,342|percentage=6.26%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=1,521,638|percentage=100.0%}}{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=[[2024 United States Senate election in Florida]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://floridaelectionwatch.gov/FederalOffices/USSenator | title=Florida Election Watch - US Senator }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=[[Rick Scott]] (incumbent)|votes=5,977,706|percentage=55.57%|change=+5.52%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=[[Debbie Mucarsel-Powell]]|votes=4,603,077|percentage=42.79%|change=-7.14%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent|candidate=Ben Everidge|votes=62,683|percentage=0.58%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Libertarian Party of Florida|candidate=Feena Bonoan|votes=57,363|percentage=0.53%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent|candidate=Tuan TQ Nguyen|votes=56,586|percentage=0.53%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box write-in with party link
| votes = 13
| percentage = 0.00%
| change = -0.01%
}}
{{Election box total|votes=10,757,428|percentage=100.00%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

==Awards and honors==
* ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, America's 25 Most Influential People, June 1996<ref name="Time25">{{cite magazine |date=June 17, 1996 |title=Time 25: They range in age from 31 to 67 |url=https://time.com/archive/6729155/time-25-they-range-in-age-from-31-to-67/ |access-date=August 23, 2024 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref>
* ''Financial World'' magazine, silver award for the CEO of the Year, 1995<ref name="Columbia award"/>
* [[Columbia University|Columbia University School of Nursing]], Second Century Award for Excellence in Health Care (1995)<ref name="Columbia award">{{cite news|url=http://www.columbia.edu/cu/record/archives/vol21/vol21_iss7/record2107.17.html|title=Health Plan Exec Honored by Nursing School|access-date=April 5, 2009|publisher=Columbia University|work=Columbia University Record|date=October 20, 1995}}</ref>
* [[Americans for Prosperity]], "Pioneers for Prosperity" Award, 2024<ref>{{Cite web |last=jfrontz |date=2024-09-27 |title=Members of Congress Show Their Support for Americans for Prosperity During Annual Capitol Conference |url=https://americansforprosperity.org/press-release/members-of-congress-show-their-support-for-americans-for-prosperity-during-annual-capitol-conference/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Americans for Prosperity |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/ U.S. Senate website]
* [https://www.rickscottforflorida.com/ Campaign website]
* {{C-SPAN|33129}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=S001217 | votesmart=124204 | fec=S8FL00273 | congress=rick-scott/S001217 }}

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{{US Senate leaders current}}
{{USSenChairs}}
{{Current Florida statewide political officials}}
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{{Current U.S. Senators}}
{{NRSC Chairs}}
{{USSenFL}}
{{Governors of Florida}}
{{RepNomFlGov}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=116th-present [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[Florida]]}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Rick}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
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