“But University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith said he was intrigued by Rubio’s call to have an automatic sunset on discretionary spending programs. Under Rubio’s plan, all discretionary spending programs would end every 10 years after the U.S. Census is conducted unless Congress specifically votes to continue them. ‘I think it’s a way potentially to drive a spike in the heart of these seemingly immortal bureaucracies that get started in government and then can’t be exterminated,’ said Snaith, a fiscal conservative who is not supporting any candidate. ‘I think putting in a process like that is sensible.’” – University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith, The Associated Press, 7/26/10

Jacksonville, FL – Today, at a town hall meeting in Jacksonville, U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio made the second in his “Ideas to Reclaim America” proposals to offer a clear alternative to the out-of-control spending in Washington. America is the greatest country in the world but Washington has been taken over by big spending politicians from both parties who will say or do anything to get elected. Marco is the only candidate who will challenge the direction they’re taking our country.

“My children – Amanda, 10; Daniella, 8; Anthony, 5; and Dominic, 2 – are too young to understand what Washington politicians are doing to them and their generation. But I do, and it’s what motivates me each day to do something about it. The decisions we make today and in the coming years will determine what kind of country they live in. Every day we postpone acting decisively to rein in wasteful spending and cut the debt, we pile even more on the backs of millions of young Americans,” said Marco Rubio.

To start cutting spending in Washington and begin to reclaim our country, Marco has proposed 12 simple ideas:

• IDEA #1: Cut The Budgets Of The White House And Congress By Ten Percent. As recently documented, the budgets of the White House and Congress are out-of-control. Salaries alone at the White House have increased by at least $4 million from 2008. We must cut the budgets of Congress and the White House by 10%. One of the first things Republicans did when they took over Congress in the 1990’s was reduce the number of committees, committee staff, and cut the Congressional budget. We need to do it again, this time adding in the White House budget.

• IDEA #2: Reduce The Size Of The Federal Bureaucracy. To get spending under control, we must cut the size of the government workforce. To begin, we should freeze federal civilian workforce pay for one year and bring the pay scale back in line with market rates. In addition, we should reduce its’ size to 2008 levels. To accomplish this without disrupting critical government services, we should implement a policy of only hiring just one civilian employee for every two that leave government.

• IDEA #3: Reallocate The Bank Bailout Program Funding To Cut The Debt. While the TARP program needs to be ended, using it to help offset the Financial Regulation Reform, which is beyond its purpose, is wrong. The funds should be returned to the Treasury and other spending cuts should be made to offset the financial regulation reform costs.

• IDEA #4: End The Stimulus Program And Use The Savings To Cut The Debt. We must end the wasteful stimulus program that has failed to create jobs. Stimulus money that has not been spent should be used for something that will actually help the economy and create jobs, or to pay down the debt. Canceling unspent stimulus funds could save over $300 billion.

• IDEA #5: Ban All Earmarks. We should ban earmarks as Sen. Jim DeMint proposed in Congress this year. This could save $15-20 billion annually and stop Congress from using pork barrel projects to buy votes for things like the health care bill. Marco will also demand on-the-record votes for any proposal that requires taxpayer money to be spent on a specific federal program.

• IDEA #6: Pass A Constitutional Amendment Requiring Congress To Balance The Budget. A balanced budget amendment will force Congress to make cuts by eliminating spending, not raising taxes. If the Florida Legislature and almost every state in America is required by their state constitution to pass a balanced budget each year, so should Washington and Congress.

• IDEA #7: Require Any New Federal Taxes Only Be Approved By A Two-Thirds Vote Of The House And Senate. With the out-of-control spending and our mounting debt crisis, Democrats in Washington will be pushing an agenda to increase taxes on Florida families. To prevent that, Marco believes that any new taxes require a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate to pass. This will ensure that the balanced budget amendment achieves its’ goal via spending cuts, not tax increases.

• IDEA #8: Put A “Check-Off” Box On The Federal Tax Form Allowing Taxpayers To Designate 10 Percent Of Their Existing Tax Bill To Go Toward Paying Down The National Debt. In the Senate, Marco will support proposals that would allow individuals and businesses to check-off an amount, up to 10 percent of their existing tax bill, to be dedicated to retiring the national debt. Congress would have to match the amount contributed by taxpayers from taxes they already owe with spending cuts. If not, a Gramm-Rudman style across-the-board reduction would occur, exempting certain critical spending such as Social Security and defense. This would help Congress to prioritize spending.

• IDEA #9: Automatic Sunset Of Government Programs. We need to end the permanent lease on life that government programs are given. Too often, Congress creates a spending program, increases its’ funding and never looks back to see if it is actually working. We should mandate that all discretionary spending programs end every 10 years after the Census unless Congress specifically votes to continue them.

• IDEA #10: Freeze Federal Non-Defense, Non-Veterans Spending At 2008 Levels. We should freeze non-defense and non-veterans discretionary spending at pre-Obama levels. In addition, we should actually enforce our goals to cut spending and reduce the deficit by making automatic cuts if politicians won’t. This could save hundreds of billions of dollars over 10 years.

• IDEA #11: Give The President The Line-Item Veto. Marco believes the President should have the authority to make line-item vetoes to the federal budget. If most state governors have the power to veto unnecessary individual spending, so should the President.

• IDEA #12: Reform Entitlement Programs. Over the next 75 years, the present value of the total shortfall in Social Security and Medicare will exceed $45 trillion. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are going broke and will bankrupt our country. Benefits for those currently receiving them or those approaching retirement should not and will not change. But the truth is that for those who are younger, the programs will need to change or they will no longer exist when they themselves approach retirement age. Unlike his opponents, Marco has been willing to confront this reality, to talk about it with voters, and to come up with common-sense solutions that will safeguard our economic future.

A great crowd building outside the Plaza Theatre before the event.

Conservative radio talk show host Laura Ingraham introducing Marco.

Marco addressing the crowd in Orlando and receiving the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

A poster from the U.S. Chamber endorsement event in Orlando.

“Today’s deficit announcement by the White House only confirms the obvious: that Washington’s spending is historically reckless, unsustainable, and endangering short-term job creation and the long-term solvency of our nation. In recent weeks, I have traveled the state talking about specific policy ideas to help grow the economy and create jobs. However, in order to effectively tackle the deficit and debt, we must also get serious about cutting wasteful spending on failed policies like the stimulus and other government spending.

“For the sake of today’s job seekers and tomorrow’s generation, enough is enough. This Monday in Jacksonville, I look forward to outlining a set of ideas to control spending and put our nation on a fiscally responsible path.”

“We will endorse Marco Rubio because he has a record of standing up for the people of Florida during challenging economic times,” said Bill Miller, the U.S. Chamber’s senior vice president and political director who will attend the event with Rubio. “He is an invaluable leader who has a common sense approach to job creation and getting America back on the road to recovery.”

“On issues ranging from competition in the health care industry, to lowering taxes, to reducing energy costs, Florida’s businesses and workers will have a tireless advocate in Marco Rubio,” Miller said.

In total, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Associated Builders & Contractors, the Associated Industries of Florida and the Club for Growth have all endorsed Rubio as the only candidate who will be a check-and-balance against the anti-jobs policies coming out of Washington and offer a clear alternative.

“I’m honored to have the support of the U.S. Chamber. At a time when the policies coming out of Washington are creating too much uncertainty for businesses to grow and create jobs, ours is the only campaign offering to go to Washington and act as a check and balance on this agenda and offer an alternative.

“Politicians don’t create jobs. Jobs are created by everyday people who start a new business or expand an existing one. Government’s job is to make critical decisions on tax, regulatory and other economic issues that encourage entrepreneurs to invest in their ideas. I will continue to be a voice for preserving the free enterprise system and for job creators small and large who deserve a jobs-friendly climate.”

The U.S. Chamber plans to play a major role nationwide in the 2010 elections, endorsing candidates who have demonstrated consistent support for America’s job creators and will work to advance a pro-growth agenda in Congress. In 2008, 213 of the 265 Chamber-endorsed candidates (81%) were elected.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

“The people of Florida deserve to know the truth from Charlie Crist about his dealings with Washington Democrats and Harry Reid specifically. While the governor refuses to tell Floridians where he would sit in the United States Senate, is he cutting deals with Harry Reid and the Democrats in Washington to caucus with them? Or is the governor so desperate to be a Democrat that he is making up phone calls that never happened? Whether it was one, multiple or no conversations, the spectacle of Harry Reid and Charlie Crist not being able to get their stories straight about who said what and when is just the latest reminder that Washington can’t afford more politicians that will say and do anything for the sake of winning an election,” said Alex Burgos, Rubio for Senate spokesman.

Background:

“Reid Denied Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s Claims That He’s Reached Out To Him In Recent Weeks”: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid denied Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s claims that he’s reached out to him in recent weeks, seeking to end speculation that he is quietly trying to woo Crist to caucus with Democrats if the independent wins his Senate race this fall. “You must be reading somebody’s mail other than mine,” the Nevada Democrat said Tuesday when asked why he’d spoken with Crist in recent weeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Asked if he’d spoken to Crist about joining the Democratic Caucus should he win in November, Reid said: “Of course not,” saying he was supporting Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek in the race. “I placed one call to Gov. Crist, and I was glad I did that – that conversation was several months ago.” – Politico

“Someone Is Not Telling The Truth Here”: Someone is not telling the truth here. Of course, politicians stretch the truth sometimes, but there’s a whopper in here somewhere. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running as an independent after being forced from the GOP by the surging candidacy of Tea Party favorite, conservative Republican Marco Rubio, told the Wall Street Journal’s Peter Wallsten that he had spoken with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, twice in recent weeks. – Fox News

“Reid Reportedly Spoke With Florida Governor Charlie Crist About The Race For Florida’s Open Senate Seat”: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reportedly spoke with Florida Governor Charlie Crist about the race for Florida’s open Senate seat. Crist is running as an independent, but could be an important swing vote for the majority in the Senate if he aligns himself with Senate Democrats. While Reid will only say he has spoken with Crist, he will not say if Crist has given him any insight on how he will vote if he is elected to the Senate. – Fort Myers CBS TV Report

“Reid Is Denying That Claim According To Politico But Charlie Crist Has Not”: There’s actually some speculation that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is trying to woo the governor to caucus with the Democrats, partly because he’s not feeling too confident about Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek. Tonight, Reid is denying that claim according to Politico but Charlie Crist has not. He says, you now what, yeah, he’s talked to Harry Reid twice in recent weeks at least that’s according to The Wall Street Journal. – Orlando Fox TV Report