California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) is hitting Florida Gov. Rick Scott on his climate change policies while Scott visits California.
Brown welcomed Scott to his state in a Monday letter, and told the Florida governor to “stop the silly political stunts and start doing something about climate change” because the “threat is real and so too will be the devastating impacts.”
{mosads}Scott is skeptical of the scientific consensus that the climate is changing and humans are the main cause. Meanwhile, Brown’s overseen dramatic new climate policies in his state, including a law last year that mandates that half of California’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2030.
The Monday letter is an escalation of a feud between the two. Scott is boasting that his visit this week is to try to lure California businesses to Florida, in order to steal jobs and economic development from the Golden State.
Scott is using California’s new $15 minimum wage law as his main argument to attract business to Florida, where the minimum wage is $8.05.
Brown is shooting back, trying to show that California is extremely successful economically while caring about low-wage workers and the climate.
“While you’re enjoying a stroll on one of California’s beautiful beaches this week, don’t stick your head in the sand,” Brown wrote.
He included with his letter a report from last year about the risks to business stemming from climate change.
“The report also notes that Florida’s economy could suffer billions of dollars in additional losses as labor productivity drops and storm damage mounts due to extreme weather events,” Brown said.