Marco Rubio - U.S. Senate - 2010

Exactly six months ago, President Obama signed the stimulus bill into law. This came on the heels of Charlie Crist joining him at a pro-stimulus rally in Ft. Myers where, with cheering crowds in the stands, the duo promoted a wasteful $787 billion stimulus that has become the poster child of everything that is wrong with our political system today.

With today’s high unemployment, there’s no joy in Ft. Myers, throughout Florida or anywhere in the country when it comes to a stimulus that has only stimulated big government dreams and nightmarish deficits. Those who supported this big spending bill simply do not understand what makes the economy grow or how it works.

Ronald Reagan, paraphrasing John Adams, used to say, “Facts are stubborn things.” In looking at the facts since Jeb Bush left office, things have gone dramatically wrong in Florida.

In these last two-and-a-half years, Florida’s unemployment rate has nearly tripled. Housing values have plummeted, while property taxes remain too high. Today, for the first time since World War II ended, Florida’s population is declining. Charlie Crist’s response has been to support the wasteful stimulus bill and sign a historic $2.2 billion tax increase into law.

I say leave this kind of big government “governing” to Democrats. Republicans should be the ones standing up to this type of wasteful spending, not proposing it. Washington has enough problems without importing failed policies from Florida.

That’s why I believe it’s important to send someone to Washington who understands that sending more power and money to government isn’t the answer. We need a senator who will stand up to the big spenders in both parties and restrain government growth that is spiraling out of control and threatening the future of our country.

As we see growing evidence of the failures of and frustration with the stimulus and other big government schemes, I remind you that things don’t have to be this way. We don’t need a U.S. senator who will be another vote for big government schemes like cap-and-trade and government-run health care. What Florida needs is a reliable check and balance on the Obama-Reid-Pelosi trio that is recklessly leading our country down the wrong path.

I promise to not give in to the adoring crowds at pro-spending rallies. I’ll stand up for you, the taxpayer. You deserve no less, and so do your children and grandchildren who will also be footing the bill politicians are running up today.

Proud to Stand with You,
Marco Rubio