• Staunchly committed to smaller government and no new taxes
• Returned more than $15 billion to overtaxed Floridians while preserving vital programs
• Eliminated the hated “intangibles” retirement tax on Florida’s seniors and savers
• Cut wasteful programs, streamlined government and eliminated duplicate programs
• Passed a sales tax holiday for “back to school” supplies
• Passed a sales tax holiday on hurricane preparedness supplies like generators
• Insisted on having Florida government set aside money in a “rainy day” fund
• Improved the business climate through the Capital Investment Tax Credit Program to help businesses bring jobs to Florida
• Celebrated Florida’s lowest unemployment rate in state history: 3.1%

Lower Taxes, Economic Prosperity

Jeff Atwater is staunchly opposed to new taxes, and is guided by the core principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility. He’s been a key architect of the successful tax cuts and spending controls that have driven Florida’s strong economic growth. Jeff Atwater’s tax cuts have returned more than $15 billion to overtaxed Floridians.

Not long ago, Florida suffered under some the highest state tax rates in the country due to a tax-and-spend mentality driven by special interests. “The old way wasn’t working,” says Atwater. “Florida’s economy was burdened by top-down big government, higher taxes and reckless spending. In business, I saw how insensitive Tallahassee was to the needs of local companies and taxpayers and I vowed to change that. When I was first elected, I set a goal of giving Floridians their money back though tax cuts that made a real difference and cutting government waste that didn’t.”

As a banker, Jeff knows first hand that Floridians need opportunities and incentives for savings and investment. That’s why he led the fight to eliminate the hated “intangibles” retirement tax on Florida’s seniors and savers. He’s fought for sales tax holidays for school supplies and hurricane preparedness equipment.

“Lower taxes, increased employment opportunities, a strong economy and a thriving business-friendly state won’t come from government programs,” says Atwater. “They’ll come by honoring the principle that people spend their own money better than the government can. I want Floridians to keep more of their own money to save, buy a home, invest in their family or to grow a business.”