Miami, FL – U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio issued the following statement regarding today’s news that Florida’s unemployment rate has reached 12.2 percent, the highest level in recorded history:
“More than a year ago, President Obama and Governor Crist stood before the people of Florida and sold their stimulus bill as necessary for job creation. A year later, more jobs have been lost and today’s report is just the latest indication that the Crist-Obama stimulus has failed Floridians.
“Unfortunately, instead of moving in the direction of pro-growth economic policies, President Obama and the Democrats have only continued their push for costly taxes, more spending and burdensome regulation like the recently signed health care law. With each passing day, we put our economy into further danger by placing trillions of dollars of debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren.
“At this critical time for our nation, Floridians need someone in Washington they can trust to offer clear conservative alternatives that encourage job creation and stand up to President Obama’s job-killing agenda.”
BACKGROUND: FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT UNDER CHARLIE CRIST
When Charlie Crist Took Office, Florida’s Unemployment Rate Was 3.3 Percent. (“Florida’s January Unemployment 3.3 Percent,” Press Release, Agency For Workforce Innovation, 3/8/07)
In February 2009, When Crist Campaigned With President Obama To Pass The Stimulus, Florida’s Unemployment Rate Was 9.2 Percent. (“Florida’s February Employment Figures Released,” Press Release, Agency For Workforce Innovation, 3/26/10)
Florida’s February 2010 Unemployment Rate Is At An All-Time Recorded High Of 12.2 Percent. (“Florida’s February Employment Figures Released,” Press Release, Agency For Workforce Innovation, 3/26/10)
There Are 1,126,000 Unemployed Floridians Today, The Most Ever. (“Florida’s February Employment Figures Released,” Press Release, Agency For Workforce Innovation, 3/26/10)
211,500 Jobs Have Been Lost Since The Crist-Obama Stimulus Passed. (“Florida’s February Employment Figures Released,” Press Release, Agency For Workforce Innovation, 3/26/10)
Yesterday, Governor Crist “Touted The Fact The Economy Has Gotten Better.” “He also touted the fact the economy has gotten better and urged a Times-Union reporter to mention that homes sales are increasing in Florida. The Outer Beltway is a model of his philosophy, Crist said, because government is ‘empowering’ the private sector to do something.” (“Crist Says Beltway Moving Forward In Campaign-Style Speech,” Florida Times-Union, 3/26/10)