Florida Gov. heading to California in jobs push

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida Gov. Rick Scott is heading to the West Coast.

Scott is planning an April trip as part of his effort to lure businesses from other states.

The Republican governor sent a letter Thursday to shipping companies. Scott is urging them to shift their business to Florida after labor disputes in California ports.

Scott’s letter says he will be in Los Angeles on April 12 and April 13. His letter also takes shots at what he calls California Gov. Jerry Brown’s “tax and spend administration.”

During his inaugural address in January, Scott said he would visit several states in an effort to convince businesses to relocate.

Scott’s past effort to convince companies to move has drawn fire from other governors. Other chief executives have called Scott’s efforts “crude” and “misleading.”