10 things to expect in Gov. Rick Scott's second term

Florida voters granted Gov. Rick Scott another four years in office Tuesday night and he will serve alongside an all-Republican Cabinet, a GOP majority in the state Senate and a super-majority in the House.

That should make it very easy for Scott to carry out his policy goals, as long as it doesnt run counter to the priorities of legislative leaders who have no problems squabbling behind closed doors with the states chief executive.

Scott cannot run for re-election in 2018 because of term limits. That means, for better or worse, Floridians can expect him to follow his own heart on policies and positions without as much consideration as to how voters perceive him.

The governor will make public his plans for 2015-16 when he unveils his budget proposal in January.

No one has a crystal ball, but here are 10 things to look for during Scotts second term.

Focus on jobs: Expect more cold calls and letters from Scott to companies based in Democratic-controlled states as he did throughout his first term. And expect angry rebuttals from those governors as a result. Expect him to continue supporting the elimination of regulations he believes stifle business growth. Expect the governor to compare Florida to Texas often, especially when it comes to job growth statistics. I will not let up; we will become No. 1, Scott said on election night.

More tax cuts: Speaking of jobs, Scott believes that cutting taxes and fees for Florida businesses and individuals fuels economic growth. On the campaign trail, he said he would propose $1 billion in tax and fee cuts during his second term. Some of that will be a heavy lift such as his desire to introduce a constitutional amendment that would limit property tax increases but others could be more palatable to the Legislature now that members have at least two years until the next election.

No tuition increases: Gov. Rick Scott doesnt believe that Florida students attending public universities and state colleges should pay any more in tuition than they already do. He helped convince the Legislature to remove provisions in the state budget that allowed for automatic tuition increases in certain cases. He has great influence on the makeup of universities boards of trustees and the state Board of Governors. As a result, dont expect tuition increases for state universities to get any love, although Florida State University and University of Florida have some special flexibility. Although all schools have more control over the fees that students pay for some services, sizeable increases in that area also will be frowned upon.

No easier restoration of rights: Under Gov. Charlie Crist, felons who had completed the terms of their sentences saw a streamlined process that made it easier to get their rights restored, allowing them to vote and serve on juries. Shortly after Scott took office, he and the Cabinet reversed Crists policy and established a minimum five-year waiting period for ex-convicts to apply to have their rights restored. Not only was Scott re-elected, but the Cabinet was, too, so expect no changes here.

More conservatives on the bench: State law requires four Florida Supreme Court justices to retire in the coming years, including several considered among the most liberal on the seven-member bench. Justice James Perry must retire in 2017, which means Scott will pick his replacement. The other three could hold off until the final days of Scotts term, and that could pave the way for joint appointments by him and his successor. Meanwhile, Scott will appoint dozens of people to judicial vacancies in county, circuit and appellate courts across the state during his second term.

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10 things to expect in Gov. Rick Scott's second term