State of Florida Archives: on Budget & Economy

Adam Putnam: Don't make Florida into California & their debt

"Unsustainable debt, disastrous environmental regulations, unfunded pensions for public employees, and massive government work projects they can't afford are a recipe for disaster. I will work day and night to prevent that. The crippling left-wing policies of their Golden State must never take root here in our Sunshine State!"

Al Lawson: We are still rebuilding from the Recession; focus on jobs

Andrew Gillum: Stimulus better than market-led recovery

A: Agree--Mayor Gillum supports the Obama Administration's actions to save our economy from the reckless Wall Street behavior that wrecked our economy.

Annette Taddeo: Budget should help struggling families, not make it harder

Augustus Invictus: Fight for balanced budget & against Federal Reserve

Betty Castor: No tax cuts to the wealthy while we are facing huge deficits

CASTOR: Deficits are a drag on our economy and a burden on our children. I would vote for middle-class tax cuts, but I would not vote to give even more tax cuts to the wealthy while we are facing huge deficits and struggling to pay for a war and other priorities. I would close the loopholes that let powerful corporations get away with sheltering taxes overseas and not paying their fair share. I would fight waste, fraud and abuse in government spending

MARTINEZ: Our budget should reflect this nation’s goals and purpose, and advance our three highest priorities. First, America must prevail in the war on terror. Second, we must continue to strengthen our homeland defenses. Third, we must build on the economic recovery that began in earnest in 2003 with policies that further promote growth and job creation. The government must limit discretionary spending growth, focus on the results of government programs, and cut wasteful spending.

Bill Nelson: Budget sequestration avoided national default

"You were going to let this country go into default where it could not pay its bills. Obviously we could not do that," Nelson said, noting that Mack was in the minority who voted against the so-called sequestration plan.

Brian Mast: Balance budget & overhaul federal spending caps

We need to overhaul federal spending caps and deficit targets enforced by a sequester in order to balance the budget and begin paying down the federal debt. Congress has demonstrated too many times that it won't make tough spending decisions on its own.

While there is plenty of wasteful discretionary spending and a host of programs Washington has no business being involved in, it's impossible to balance the budget without reforming entitlement programs. Entitlements and interest on the debt now constitute 2/3 of the budget. In addition, putting Medicare and Social Security on sound financial footing isn't just about averting a debt crisis; it's about saving these critical programs for the seniors who rely on them and preventing younger taxpayers from having to face huge tax increases and fewer jobs caused by massive spikes in their payroll taxes.

Brian Moore: Stimulus better than market-led recovery

A: Strongly support this approach.ÿ America was able to remove 3-5 million Americans from poverty just by providing families with extra stimulus incomes over the last 12 to 18 months due to the pandemic.ÿ That has ended, and 3.5 million children have slid back into the level of poverty already.ÿ The market-led recovery approach is based on profit, greed, survival of the fittest (the privileged few) at the expense of the common good.ÿ It has run its course and proven to not be effective nor successful.

Carlos Curbelo: Chronic budget deficits threaten our economy & security

1. Reform our tax system, reduce taxes on working families, and reward hard work.
2. End the chronic budget deficits that threaten our economy and our national security
3. Reform higher education, so that our colleges and universities better prepare our young men and women for the jobs and opportunities of this still new century.

Carlos Lopez-Cantera: As Lt. Governor: focus on job creation and tax reduction

Source: Miami Herald on 2016 Florida Senate race Jul 27, 2015

Charlie Crist: Florida HOPE taskforce to help victims of housing crisis

The people who sent us here--their wisdom and their experience in the real world makes up a significant portion of the knowledge base from which we must lead.

Charlie Crist: Supports economic stimulus and some parts of ObamaCare

"You think government creates jobs," Rubio said to Meek, cutting him off.

"No, I don't," Meek said.

"You do," Rubio said.

"I think tax cuts for small businesses create jobs and incentives for local communities to move forward," Meek said

Crist added, "What you just witnessed is the problem and the reason I'm running as an independent. These two guys are going at each other because one's the Republican right, one's the Democratic left. What's true is there are good things that both parties can present to the future of our country." Crist, who supported the economic stimulus and said he likes some things in the health care law but that it needs to be fixed, portrayed himself as a centrist who backs the best policies of each party.

Charlie Crist: $8B stimulus funds saved or created 87,000 jobs in Florida

RUBIO: Well, if it's bad for America, it can't possibly be good for your state. Since February, 211,000 Floridians have lost their jobs.

CRIST: As governor, you've got to make tough decisions. I made the tough decision to utilize these funds to help th people of Florida. I know the unemployment rate is bad. I know the economy is tough. I understand all of that. If we had taken the speaker's approach, we would have had 87,000 more people on top of that 12% that would be unemployed in Florida today.

Q: If you had been a senator in 2009 you would have voted for the stimulus?

CRIST: Yeah, it was the right thing to do at the time. You have to go back and remember what was happening in our economy. It was literally falling off the cliff.

Charlie Crist: OpEd: As incumbent, blamed for Florida's weak economy

The state has the second-highest foreclosure rate in the country, behind Nevada, more than twice the national average, according to RealtyTrac, an Irvine, California-based data provider.

Charlie Crist: Worked to pass the American Rescue Plan

David Jolly: We've doubled our national debt in the last 8 years

David Jolly: Balance the budget: morally bound and for national security

Edward Janowski: Stimulus is short-lived; reduce barriers to market growth

A: While a stimulus payment is popular for the people receiving a check, its effects are generally short-lived and without many long-term benefits to the economy. Reducing or removing barriers that allow new businesses to start and grow is generally more productive for the entire economy. Incentives to bring established manufacturing companies back to the US provide more opportunities for local economies, instead of benefiting a foreign country.

Francis Rooney: $20 trillion dollars national debt is a national disgrace

Economy:
• Make the focus not just economic growth, but job creation.
• As a political outsider & business owner, Francis Rooney knows what it takes to get people working and get our economy moving.
• Francis Rooney will be a jobs congressman for Southwest Florida.

Spending:
• The national debt is approaching $20 trillion dollars; it is an unthinkable amount of money and a national disgrace.
• Foreign countries hold power over America because of the irresponsible amount of debt owed to them. Our children and grandchildren deserve to live the American dream, but that's only possible by eliminating our debt.
• Francis Rooney will make cutting spending and paying down the debt his fight on Capitol Hill.

Jeb Bush: Supports constitutional balanced budget amendment

A: Yes

Q: Do you support providing immunity from civil liability to persons who are participating in the process of government?

A: No.

Jeb Bush: Florida budget grew by 27% during Bush's terms

The Bush tax strategies facilitated his "starve the beast" spending policy and gave him an opportunity to make the kinds of choices in funding state government that he desired.

Jeff Greene: Everyone knew housing crash was coming; Congress did nothing

"I wasn't a genius. It was on the front page of Time magazine: Housing Bust Coming; It was on the front page of the Economist, Housing Market crumbling," Greene said to Rep. Meek. "Guys like you were just part of the party. You were getting money from all these (Wall Street firms) and failed to regulate them."

Greene concluded that Meek and members of Congress refused to regulate the housing lending industry -- even accusing the congressman of pushing risky sub-prime mortgages and money from the industry.

John McCain: Republicans have forgotten how to control spending

A: Absolutely. We let spending lurch completely out of control. As president of the United States, I'd take an old veto pen that Ronald Reagan gave me, and I'd veto every single pork barrel bill that comes across my desk. And we've got to stop it and stop it now. I look forward to it.

John McCain: I'm well-versed in economics; I was at the Reagan Revolution

A: Actually, I don't know where you got that quote from. I'm very well versed in economics. I was there at the Reagan Revolution. I was there just after we enacted the first tax cuts and the restraints on spending. I was chairman of the Commerce Committee in the Senate, which addresses virtually every major economic issue that affects the US. I'm very well versed on economics. That's why I have a strong team around me that respect my views and my vision. And that's why The Wall Street Journal, in a survey of economists recently, that the majority of economists thought that I could handle the nation's economy best. And I have been a consistent fighter to restrain spending and to cut taxes. And my credentials & my experience & my knowledge of these economic issues, I think, are extensive. And I would match them against anybody who's running.

John McCain: FactCheck: Said--then denied--he needed economics education

Russert's quote comes from a 2005 interview with the Wall Street Journal on Nov. 26, 2005: "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."

We could not find that McCain has said that quote "repeatedly," but he has made similar comments recently The Chicago Tribune quoted McCain talking to reporters on Dec. 18, 2007: "The issue of economics is something that I've really never understood as well as I should. I understand the basics, the fundamentals, the vision, all that kind of stuff."

John McCain: Impose some fiscal discipline to revive the economy

A: I will, as president, veto every one of these big spending bills. I will impose some fiscal discipline. We will clean up our act and we will regain the confidence of the American people as being careful stewards of our tax dollars, and we will fix this problem with having to borrow money from China, then we will balance our budget, just like every governor in America has been required to do.

John McCain: Will be able to reduce war costs & have a stable Middle East

A: I know of no military leader, including Gen. Petraeus, who says we can't sustain our effort in Iraq. So you're wrong. The fact is, we are succeeding in Iraq. We're going back down to previous levels, and we will be able to withdraw troops over time if we succeed. We have American troops all over the world today & nobody complains about it because we're defending freedom That's one of the obligations of being the world's superpower. I'm proud to adopt the strategy that is succeeding, and that's happened. I'm the only one that said that. It is succeeding. We will be able to reduce our costs, and we will be able to have a stable Middle East, where our vital national interests, national security interests are at stake. I'm so proud of the job that the men and women in the military are doing there, and they don't want us to raise the white flag of surrender.

John McCain: Reform insurance to cover violent weather patterns

John Rutherford: Entrepreneurs create jobs--not the government

Kendrick Meek: For economic stimulus, ObamaCare, & repealing Bush tax cuts

"You think government creates jobs," Rubio said to Meek, cutting him off.

"No, I don't," Meek said.

"You do," Rubio said.

"I think tax cuts for small businesses create jobs and incentives for local communities to move forward," Meek said.

Crist added, "What you just witnessed is the problem and the reason I'm running as an independent. These two guys are going at each other because one's the Republican right, one's the Democratic left. What's true is there are good things that both parties can present to the future of our country."

Kendrick Meek: Grow the economy rather than applying ideology

In a back-and-forth that defined their campaigns, Crist depicted Rubio as a conservative ideologue unable or unwilling to deviate from extreme views regardless of changing dynamics. "You know, facts change all the time," Crist said. "I think people want an open-minded senator rather than the opposite, a closed-minded senator."

Rubio "wouldn't accept tax cuts on 98% of the people in America because of his ideology," Crist said. "That's exactly the problem, that's what's not right with Washington today." While Crist advocated a compromise, Meek backed the Obama position.

Marco Rubio: Oppose Obama stimulus package; it's bad for America

RUBIO: Well, if it's bad for America, it can't possibly be good for your state. Since February, 211,000 Floridians have lost their jobs. Do you want a candidate that would have voted against the stimulus and supported something that would have cost less money and created more jobs. If that's the candidate you want, that would be me. Or do you want the someone who would have voted with the Democrats for the stimulus package? And that candidate would be Gov. Crist.

CRIST: If we had taken the speaker's approach, we would have had 87,000 more people on top of that 12% that would be unemployed in Florida today.

Q: If you had been a senator in 2009 you would have voted for the stimulus?

CRIST: Yeah, it was the right thing to do at the time.

Marco Rubio: Paycheck Protection Program most effective relief program

Matt Gaetz: Balance budget by cutting spending & reforming entitlements

Matt knows that the best way to grow our economy is to get government out of the way and let the free market thrive.

Mel Martinez: Promote growth and job creation to reduce the deficit

CASTOR: Deficits are a drag on our economy and a burden on our children. I would vote for middle-class tax cuts, but I would not vote to give even more tax cuts to the wealthy while we are facing huge deficits and struggling to pay for a war and other priorities. I would close the loopholes that let powerful corporations get away with sheltering taxes overseas and not paying their fair share. I would fight waste, fraud and abuse in government spending

MARTINEZ: Our budget should reflect this nation's goals and purpose, and advance our three highest priorities. First, America must prevail in the war on terror. Second, we must continue to strengthen our homeland defenses. Third, we must build on the economic recovery that began in earnest in 2003 with policies that further promote growth and job creation. The government must limit discretionary spending growth, focus on the results of government programs, and cut wasteful spending.

Mike Huckabee: To reduce spending, get rid of IRS & revamp DHS

A: The first thing that I would get rid of would be the Internal Revenue Service. Secondly, I agree we need to revamp [the Department of] Homeland Security. It's a mess, and we have a real problem with the way that it's currently structured.

Mike Huckabee: Stimulus plan is $150B from China, to spend on Chinese goods

A: In talking about the stimulus package, one of the concerns that I have is that we'll probably end up borrowing this $150 billion from th Chinese. And when we get those rebate checks, most people are going to go out and buy stuff that's been imported from China. I have to wonder whose economy is going to be stimulated the most by the package. And I'm grateful that something is being done.

Mitt Romney: Fundamentally change how Washington works, to reduce pork

A: Every bill that comes forward that's got pork in it and earmarks that are unnecessary, we've got to veto them and send them back. But it's got to be broader than that. We're going to have to see fundamental changes in the way Washington works. We're just not going to get out-of-the-box thinking with inside-the-Beltway politics.

Mitt Romney: Make sure that we rein in spending

Mitt Romney: Support some kind of national catastrophic fund

Mitt Romney: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were source of housing bubble

ROMNEY: Well, I think you know that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were a big part of why we have the housing crisis in the nation that we have. Speaker Gingrich was hired by Freddie Mac to promote them, to influence other people throughout Washington, encouraging them not to dismantle these two entities. I think that was an enormous mistake. I think, instead, we should have had a whistle-blower and not horn-tooter. He should have stood up and said, look, these things are a disaster; this is a crisis. He should have been anxiously telling the American people that these entities were causing a housing bubble that would cause a collapse that we've seen around the country. And are they a problem today? Absolutely. They're offering mortgages, again to people who can't possibly repay them. We're creating another housing bubble, which will hurt the American people.

Neal Dunn: Cut excessive regulation; rein in wasteful spending

Cut Spending and Balance the Budget Now: More than ever, we need a Balanced Budget Amendment that will force Washington to tighten its belt and rein in wasteful spending. We can't afford to pass trillions in debt to our children and grandchildren.

Newt Gingrich: We balanced the budget four times in the 1990s

PAUL: Newt's mentioned this quite a few times about balancing the budget four times. I went back and looked at the record. The national

Newt Gingrich: We balanced the budget four times in the 1990s

GINGRICH: Under the system that was used, we were $405 billion [ahead]. I agree with Ron that we take Social Security off budget.

Nikki Fried: We need to be bringing in new industries to our state

Philip Levine: An economy that works for all Floridians

Rick Scott: 777 economic plan: 7 Steps to 700,000 Jobs in 7 Years

The best cure for our economic ills are jobs. My 7-step plan to create 700,000 jobs in 7 years will turn Florida around. I want to make Florida the job creation model for the nation.

My top priority when elected is to make Florida the number one state in the country for job creation and I will accomplish that through the implementation of my 777 economic plan--7 Steps to 700,000 Jobs in 7 Years. By reducing regulation, cutting state spending, shrinking state government and eliminating the business tax we will make Florida the obvious choice for businesses looking to relocate and provide an environment that encourages businesses already based in Florida to grow and expand. Floridians want to work and my administration's top priority will be creating jobs.

Rick Scott: Supply chain problems due to regulations, not infrastructure

Florida Governor Rick Scott: If the secretary of transportation wanted to solve the port issue, you'd fly out to the port, you'd sit down with everybody and find out what the problem is and then you go solve it. Typically, the problem is caused by some government regulation or some government red tape. If you look at what they're talking about with this bill all it's going to do is cause more inflation.

Rick Scott: I cut taxes and balanced budget; you can do both

SCOTT: I cut taxes and fees 100 times, over $10 billion and I actually balanced a budget and paid off a third of the state debt. You can do both. The way you do it is you look at every line of your budget. I went through every line and said, I am not going to waste anybody's money. We've got to do that at the federal level.

Ron Paul: Maintain the value of the dollar, unlike Federal Reserve

That's where the crisis [in Social Security] is coming. You're going to go up with all these cost of living increases but you'll never keep up with the cost of living because the dollar's going down, the cost of living is going up.

Our dollar today is worth 4 cents compared to the dollar of 1913, when the Federal Reserve took charge of it. And if you don't deal with the dollar there will be no retirement for anybody. We're going to have chaos.

And that is why you have to cut spending. That's why we need a new foreign policy. We need to tie it to people over here in this country. That's the only way we can solve the problem.

Ron Paul: Economic stimulus ok, but not via spending & printing money

A: Well, sure, indirectly. They shouldn't stimulate it by interfering in the market rate of interest. That's where our basic problem comes from. And when you do that, you get into these problems, and then everybody wants to solve the problem by printing more money and spending more money and asking the Federal Reserve to, you know, lower interest rates. And that just makes the problem that much worse. The government does have a responsibility: to lower taxes, get rid of regulations, and devise a monetary policy that makes some sense. But to continue to say that we just appropriate more money, which is more deficit, and then expect us either to borrow it or expect the Federal Reserve to monetize it, it makes our problems worse.

Ron Paul: Dollar crashing due to trillions spent on maintaining empire

And then there's never been a war fought without inflation and destruction and devaluation of a currency. And this is what we're doing today to ourselves, is we're literally spending ourselves into oblivion.

But nobody here is willing to even suggest that we cut something overseas. But we have to. We don't need to cut anything here at home. I'd like to see things frozen. I'd like to see massive tax cuts. But we need deregulation.

So this is the kind of thing we need. We need the government out of the way, but it should have sound money, low taxes, less regulations, and a sensible policy where we're not wasting our money overseas.

Ron Paul: Waving a flag the whole time on spending

Ron Paul: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be auctioned off

PAUL: That subject really doesn't interest me a whole lot. But the question is, what are we going to do about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It should have been auctioned off right after the crash came. It would have been cleansed by now. It should have been sold. We know how the bubble came about. It was excessive credit, interest rates held too low, too long, the Federal Reserve responsible for that. The Community Reinvestment Act, which is Affirmative Action telling banks they have to make these risky loans. And at the same time, there was a line of credit which allowed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to, you know, make more money. And it was assumed that they would always be protected. I've talked a long time about cutting off that credit from the Fed. I was trying to prevent this stuff.

Rudy Giuliani: Across-the-board spending cuts; zero out failing programs

A: I think you have to do across-the-board spending cuts the way Ronald Reagan. There are about 3 percent of programs that OMB finds every year are failing. They should be zeroed out.

Rudy Giuliani: Get economy back on track based on growth principles

Ted Yoho: Keynesian economics is no way to stimulate the economy

A: No.

Q: Do you support the temporary extension of unemployment benefits?

A: No.

Q: Do you support the 2010 temporary extension of tax relief?

A: Yes. I do not believe in Keynesian economics as a way to stimulate the economy. I believe in the free markets and free enterprise system as the best way to stimulate the economy. This can be accomplished by reducing government regulation and mandates.

Marco Rubio: Supports emergency relief to be spent immediately

RUBIO: What I won't support is things that are not emergency relief. What we're going to ask for Florida is what we supported for every other state in the country that's been affected by natural disasters, and that is emergency relief designed to be spent immediately to help the people affected now.