Ten years ago, Florida, like the rest of the country, was slammed by the Great Recession. Millions lost their jobs and were out of work. Households struggled to pay the bills. Families lost much of their savings and sense of security. People faced long term unemployment with no end in sight.

That’s something everyone knows. What many people don’t know is that after nearly eight years of your policies and leadership, little has changed for millions of Floridians.

As you enter your final legislative session, a majority of Florida counties are still below pre-recession job levels and millions of families are actually worse off today than when you first took office. Nearly half of Florida households (45 percent) qualify as working poor and struggle to afford even basic necessities like transportation, prescriptions and housing despite being employed.

For those struggling Floridians who haven’t given up looking for work altogether, a combination of poverty-level wages, rising cost of living, and lack of higher-paying jobs has blocked many from regaining their pre-recession stability.

(36 of Florida's 67 counties have lost jobs since 2007 - data via Florida Chamber Foundation)

Meanwhile, you have spent your time and state resources as governor slashing and underfunding public education, refusing to expand Medicaid for as many as 1 million Floridians, and setting up corporate slush funds that divert millions in taxpayer dollars to the same wealthy corporations who help fund your campaigns.

That’s why For Florida’s Future launched RicksRecession.com highlighting Florida’s unequal - and in many places, dismal - economic recovery under your leadership. Florida families have been left behind long enough. As you enter your final year in office, it’s time to face facts on what most of Florida has experienced throughout your almost eight years in office. We need to start focusing on policies that help working families, and put an end to Rick’s Recession.

Learn more: www.ricksrecession.com