Governor Rick Scott released a nearly $74.2 billion budget Wednesday that would slash taxes and boost funding for education and child welfare. 

Most of the major components of Scott's proposal - which is expected to be reshaped by the Legislature - had already been revealed in previous events. But the blueprint released Wednesday included at least two notable items: an increase in the corporate income tax exemption that would cost the state $21.6 million, and up to $70 million for land conservation.Scott also took a few swipes at his predecessor and challenger for re-election, former Governor Charlie Crist, saying Florida had lost 800,000 jobs in the four years before Scott took office.

"Taxes increased. Debt increased. And the unemployment rate rose to 11.4%", Scott said. "All while hundreds of thousands of Floridians lost their jobs." 

Scott called his budget proposal historic for its proposed spending on education – $542 million more for public education. But critics say it doesn't go far enough toward restoring the $1.3 billion in education cuts that Scott proposed in his first year in office. And the spending plan released Wednesday showed that most of that money – $374.7 million dollars – would come from rising local property taxes powered by an increase in property values.

Scott brushed aside the criticism, saying the state is headed in the right direction.