Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for Florida governor, said on Sunday that it's not working for Florida to be a "cheap date state" with its low tax rates.
"We will increase taxes for corporations in our state who right now, just so you are aware, only 3 percent of people in Florida pay the corporate tax rate. That 3 percent under the Donald Trump tax scam got a windfall of $6.3 billion overnight due to the tax reform that took place in Washington, D.C.," Gillum said. "We are not asking for all of it. We said we believe we ought to bring a billion of that money back into the state's government. Being a cheap date state hasn't worked for Florida."
Gillum added that the state would have to raise taxes if it wants to be a "leading state."
"Unfortunately we have to do it to be a leading state," Gillum said.
CNN anchor Dana Bash was pressing Gillum about how his support for a single-payer health care system would result in taxes being raised.
"A study this summer from George Mason University estimates that Medicare for all, the plan, would cost the government $33 trillion ... over the next decade which would obviously require a significant tax increase," Bash said. "Florida has a reputation, as you know, for being a tax-averse state. Are you ready to tell the people of Florida they need to pay a lot more in taxes to fund your health care plan?"
Gillum deflected on the question of taxes and insisted that the plan would save money.
"Let me say first there was a report that showed that should we move to cover more people through Medicare for all system, we could actually save the system trillions over an extended time," Gillum responded.
Bash continued to press if Gillum would raise taxes in order to pay for single-payer.
"Sir, in order to do that taxes would have to be raised. Is that fair? Do you agree with that?" Bash asked.
"I don't buy that," Gillum answered.
"How do you find that kind of money for the government without raising taxes?" Bash followed up.
"First, I would say, one, Florida could not do it by itself," Gillum said. He continued to say that Florida should start by expanding Medicaid and take billions of dollars from the federal government to help pay for it.
Bash asked one more time if he would support raising taxes for his health care plan.
"Will you say that you will not support raising taxes to make your health care plan work?" Bash asked.
"I will absolutely not raise taxes on everyday working Floridians to give access to—" Gillum said, before Bash cut him off.
Bash asked what about raising taxes on wealthy people, which is when Gillum said he would raise taxes on corporations.
Gillum has publicly stated he would increase Florida's corporate tax rate from 5.5 percent to 7.75 percent, an increase of 40.9 percent over the current rate. He said the increase would help generate $1 billion in increased annual revenue, but he pledged that money to the education system, not health care.