“Today’s unemployment report is yet another reminder that the policies coming out of Washington have created crippling uncertainty in our economy, hurt job growth, and failed over a million Floridians who continue struggling to find work and many more who have given up altogether.

“Over 18 months after President Obama and Charlie Crist promised that the $862 billion stimulus would create hundreds of thousands of jobs, it’s clear all that has been stimulated is our debt. Instead of learning from this mistake and ending it before billions more go to waste, Washington continues borrowing and spending with reckless abandon that has us on a road toward a Greece-like day of reckoning.

“By tomorrow, I will have campaigned in Florida’s four corners this week – Pensacola, Jacksonville, Miami and Naples. Everywhere I go, I keep hearing from Florida’s job creators that Washington’s policies are causing them to hold back. What they need and deserve are pro-growth economic policies that will lead to job creation.

“Instead of cap-and-trade energy taxes, we need a pro-jobs tax policy. Instead of massive stimulus bills, we need concrete measures that will eliminate wasteful spending and instill confidence in America’s fiscal future. Instead of ObamaCare, we need common-sense health care reform measures that will empower Floridians to get health insurance at lower costs.

“The bottom line is that we need leadership in Washington we can trust to work for pro-growth economic policies that will put Florida and America back to work.”

“The Obama-Crist $862 billion stimulus has failed to live-up to Washington’s promises, and the consequences have been tragic for Florida. Instead of creating the 206,000 jobs that Charlie Crist promised, more than 213,000 Floridians have lost their jobs since the stimulus passed. Charlie Crist placed his bet on Washington and today, more Floridians are out of work, more money has been borrowed from overseas, more government programs have been created and more billions have been wasted,” said Alex Burgos, Rubio for Senate spokesman. “Marco Rubio is the only candidate who has put forth a pro-growth agenda as an alternative to Washington’s failed policies that either hurt job growth or fail to live up to the hype, despite their massive price tags.”

Background:

In January 2009, A White House Report Claimed That With The Stimulus Bill The National Unemployment Rate Would Be At Or Approaching 7 Percent By This Time In 2010. (The White House, “The Job Impact Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Plan,” Report, 1/9/09)

• Today, The Unemployment Rate Is 9.5 Percent. “The U.S. economy shed more jobs than expected in July while the unemployment rate held steady at 9.5%, a further sign the economic recovery may be losing momentum.” (Luca Di Leo and Jeff Bater, “U.S. Employers Shed Jobs,” The Wall Street Journal, 8/6/10)

Florida’s Unemployment Rate Was 9.2 Percent When Charlie Crist Campaigned With President Obama For The Stimulus In February 2009. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, www.bls.gov, Accessed 8/5/10)

• Florida’s Unemployment Rate Was 11.4 Percent In June 2010. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, www.bls.gov, Accessed 8/5/10)

In March 2009, Crist Said The $862 Billion Stimulus Would Create 206,000 Jobs In Florida. “The Federal Stimulus bill is not perfect; I’ve never seen a bill that is. But, this package will provide much needed tax relief, as well as immediate assistance in education, transportation, unemployment compensation, renewable energy and other aid and is expected to save or create as many as 206,000 jobs that the people of Florida desperately need.” (Charlie Crist, 2009 State Of The State Address, Tallahassee, FL, 3/4/09)

• 213,600 More Floridians Are Unemployed Since Crist Campaigned With President Obama For The Stimulus. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, www.bls.gov, Accessed 8/5/10)

“Back when he was saying and doing anything to help President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid get the stimulus passed, Charlie Crist promised Floridians it would create jobs and that he would help Florida ‘get her fair share.’ Nearly eighteen months later, it’s clear that, much like everything else in the Obama-Crist economy, Charlie Crist has failed to deliver,” said Rubio for Senate spokesman Alex Burgos.

“Whether it’s President Obama in Washington or Charlie Crist in Tallahassee, it’s clear that the economic prescription of wasteful stimulus spending, higher taxes, more debt, cap-and-trade energy taxes and bailouts has failed to create the jobs we desperately need. Marco Rubio is the only candidate Floridians can trust to go to Washington as a check-and-balance and offer a clear pro-jobs alternative,” said Burgos.

Read The Full Article Here:

“USA Today: Florida Is Country’s Biggest Loser In Stimulus Benefits”
By Jeff Harrington
St. Petersburg Times
Aug 4, 2010

A USA Today analysis singles out Florida as the biggest loser in the federal stimulus rollout. Despite having the fifth-highest unemployment in the country, Florida ranked last in the country in stimulus benefits per resident.

Florida received the lowest per-capita payout in the country, the paper reported. Florida, which has a jobless rate of 11.4 percent, received $1,262 per capita in stimulus benefits.

Overall, there was little correlation between stimulus aid and unemployment suffered by individual states, the analysis showed. North Dakota, which has the country’s lowest jobless rate of 3.6 percent, was fourth in stimulus benefits. Alaska, with a jobless rate below the national average of 9.5 percent, was the top winner in the stimulus sweepstakes: $3,505 per person.

The analysis included three parts of the stimulus program: government spending, tax breaks and cash benefits such as unemployment payouts. The paper concluded that stimulus benefits are skewed to better-off states because federal spending formulas are tied to such criteria as income, population density, and highway fatalities — but not unemployment rates.

“While the addition of jobs is always welcome, Florida and our country are in the midst of anemic economic growth. Private sector job creation is weak because of the long term economic uncertainty created by massive debt, a broken tax code and anti-free enterprise policies such as cap-and-trade and card check. That is why the next U.S. Senator from Florida needs to be someone who will act as a check and balance on these disastrous policies coming out of Washington D.C.”

“While the small improvement is a welcome change, this year, Floridians have experienced unprecedented levels of joblessness and general insecurity about the future. A big spending, heavy-handed Washington has forced entrepreneurs and businesses to think twice about investing in their ideas and creating jobs in the process. In some cases, it has stunted business opportunities.

“Yesterday, I had the honor of meeting with workers and managers from International Paper in Pensacola, along with tourism officials and boat captains in Destin. Although they represent two distinct industries, they account for thousands of jobs in Northwest Florida. I heard firsthand about the economic challenges they face, both recently because of the oil spill, and on a more systemic basis from government over-regulating, picking winners and losers in our economy, or simply failing to provide the climate of certainty businesses need to expand.

“Whether it’s been the failed stimulus experiment, the big government health care law or the continued threat of higher taxes and cap-and- trade, Washington has grown government and spent recklessly at the private sector’s expense.

“As I’ve been proposing through serious, concrete policy measures, we need to get tough on wasteful spending, end the culture of entrepreneurial uncertainty and adopt pro-growth tax policies that will help put Floridians and all Americans back to work.”

“Each new month’s jobs report brings more confirmation that the Obama-Crist-Meek stimulus has failed Floridians. With our state’s unemployment rate at a record high for the second straight month, it’s clear that the stimulus’s legacy will be one of wasteful spending, less jobs, and even more debt. That was clear when I talked with the employees at the Caterpillar dealership in St. Augustine this past Wednesday. The economic stimulus and job creation they were promised when Governor Crist stood with President Obama more than a year ago never materialized.

“Yet, even as our state confronts record unemployment, President Obama and the Democrats are continuing down a path that will only cost Floridians more in taxes, spending and jobs lost. Businesses across this country have already said that the health care law will increase their costs and put coverage in jeopardy. Now, the Democrats plan to propose a cap-and-trade bill at the end of this month that will only put more burdens on our economy.

“In the face of this anti-growth, job-killing agenda, Floridians deserve someone in Washington they can trust to offer clear conservative alternatives that will actually create jobs here in Florida and across our country.”

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 March 2010 Unemployment Rate Is At An All-Time Recorded High Of 12.3 Percent. (“Florida’s March Employment Figures Released,” Press Release, Agency For Workforce Innovation, 4/16/10)

·         The Associated Press: “Florida’s Unemployment Rate Reached An All-Time High For The Second Straight Month At 12.3 Percent In March.” “Florida’s unemployment rate reached an all-time high for the second straight month at 12.3 percent in March. The figures released Friday by the Agency for Workforce Innovation show a marginal increase from February’s rate at 12.2 percent.” (“Florida’s Jobless Rate Reaches Record 12.3 Percent,” The Associated Press, 4/16/10)

There Are 1,138,000 Unemployed Floridians Today. (“Florida’s March Employment Figures Released,” Press Release, Agency For Workforce Innovation, 4/16/10)

“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)

“At the one year mark, it’s clear that President Obama’s and Governor Crist’s stimulus has failed the people of Florida. What was billed by them and other proponents as a job-creating panacea has instead served to grow government and increase our debt. For the record, the only backs I care about in this race are the backs of our children, upon which big government proponents continue piling trillions of dollars of debt.

“Today’s jobs report is a warning sign to Washington. If President Obama and his allies finalize their push for costly taxes, spending and regulation initiatives like the health care reform bill, they will put our economy in even further short and long term danger. As President Obama and Washington Democrats prepare to ram through their government takeover of health care, they do so at their peril. It’s alarming my opponent doesn’t believe this plan should be scrapped.

“While my opponent is focused on trivial and fabricated matters, I remain focused on my campaign to go to Washington, stand up to President Obama’s job-killing agenda and offer an alternative that encourages job creation by providing entrepreneurs with the incentives to invest and assurances their risk-taking will not be penalized. The first needed step towards creating jobs and lasting economic growth is for Washington policymakers to cease their assault on the free market, beginning with a scrapping of the current health care proposal on the table.”

“Today’s news is devastating to Floridians without work who are looking for glimmers of hope in our economy. With 1,087,000 Floridians now unemployed, it’s clear the agenda pursued by President Obama and his allies, particularly the $787 billion stimulus, has failed the people of Florida. In fact, I firmly believe the stimulus has not only failed to stimulate the economy, but has actually had the opposite effect by acting like an anchor holding down and preventing a quicker recovery.

“The stimulus, which my opponent insists he will not apologize for supporting, has been an abysmal failure because it has put bigger government and more spending ahead of broad-based tax relief and market-based incentives for entrepreneurs, families and businesses. Moreover, the massive debt that has come as a result of the stimulus and the bellicose statements coming from the Obama White House against entrepreneurs and job creators are creating uncertainty and anxiety which will only prolong our economic challenges.

“Despite the considerable challenges facing Florida’s families during this difficult time, I am absolutely confident that once the right policies are put in place and the genius and character of the American entrepreneur is again unleashed, our state and nation will get on track towards a quicker and more robust recovery. Our campaign is about giving further voice to the millions of Floridians who are united in their opposition to higher taxes, more borrowing and runaway reckless spending, while providing a real path to prosperity based on the proven free market principles our country was founded upon.”

“Today’s news that over 1 million Floridians are out of work is especially heartbreaking as we approach the holidays. Behind these numbers are real people with real families who want nothing more than to put a grim 2009 behind them. My heart goes out to them, along with my sincere hope that 2010 brings greater blessings and opportunity.

“With Christmas right around the corner, today’s jobs report is also a sobering reminder of how the failed policies pursued by this President, this Congress and allies like Governor Crist have had painful consequences on real people. During this time of economic uncertainty, Floridians need reassurance that their taxes won’t be raised, government won’t take over health care, cap-and-trade won’t burden them with a national energy tax or that a second stimulus won’t plunge us into further debt.

“It’s been a rough 2009, but the policy decisions being made in Washington today and over the coming years will determine whether America faces a rough future for decades to come. I hope today’s unemployment news serves as a compelling enough reason for Washington to stop inflicting lasting damage on our economy.”

BACKGROUND: FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT UNDER 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)

When The Stimulus Passed In February, Florida’s Unemployment Rate Was 9.4 Percent. (“Florida’s February Employment Figures Released,” Press Release, Agency For Workforce Innovation, 3/27/09)

Florida’s November 2009 Unemployment Rate Is At A 34-Year High Of 11.5 Percent. (“Florida’s November Employment Figures Released,” Press Release, Agency For Workforce Innovation, 12/18/09)

There Are 755,000 More Unemployed Floridians Today Than When Charlie Crist Became Governor.

There Are 182,000 More Unemployed Floridians Today Than When The Crist-Obama Stimulus Passed.