Marco Rubio returned to the Florida House Wednesday, this time not as House speaker but as a U.S. senator and up-and-coming star who has something to say that conservatives and Republicans across the nation want to hear.
Today is indeed a great day for the Florida House, said House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, who praised Rubio as a bold, conservative, dynamic leader.
It is surreal to be back, said Rubio, after receiving a standing ovation from the legislators.
Rubio spoke on the House floor to Republican members --and three Democrats invited by House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera of Miami -- and insisted it was a crucial moment in American history as the nation stood at the crossroads between remaining based on a free-market economy or one overwhelmed by government spending and the national debt.
Rubio weighed in on affairs in the state and nation, praising Americas unique history and the economic opportunities its free-market system provided.
All of us, including me, are guilty of forgetting how different the American experience really is, said Rubio before praising the free-market system. Thats the source of our prosperity, he insisted. Big government, intrusive government doesnt hurt the people who have already made it.
Offering a grim assessment of the federal governments finances, Rubio painted a dire picture of a future as the national debt could continue to have its rating lowered, leading to higher interest costs which would impact all Americans.
The math is straightforward, said Rubio, noting that the federal government needed to borrow $1.5 trillion to continue operations.
The new senator stated that federal programs were growing too quickly and needed to be reformed to control costs and growing expenses.
I believe in Social Security and Medicaid, said Rubio, but he called the growth of the size and scope of those programs unsustainable as more people retired and there were fewer workers to support the programs.
Rubio attacked both Republicans and Democrats for ignoring the spiraling costs of these programs and continuing to rely on increasing the national debt.
We have a political process that is frozen, said Rubio. The White House knows this. The congressional leadership knows this.
Our decline is not inevitable, insisted Rubio, adding that the state government can also help by spending only the money it's got. But he said that government at both the state and federal level can no longer ignore uncontrolled spending and spiraling debt. It requires us to act now.
Rubio said that every generation of Americans faced similar challenges in order to remain exceptional. He invoked the challenges that previous Americans faced in both world wars and during the civil rights movement.
I hope we reach the point where our political leadership confronts the challenges of our time, said Rubio, but he added that Americas greatness does not rest on its political system or its government.
Government is not our country, continued Rubio. The things that define America are the everyday people.
Rubio said every American has a common heritage of being descended from go-getters who looked to fulfill the American dream. He said this heritage will help Americans face the current challenges.
The senator received praise from Republicans in the House and even won warm words from House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders of Key West who served with Rubio in Tallahassee. Marco is a great speaker, said Saunders, who added that he is glad the Sunshine State has the services of Rubio and Rubio's Democratic colleague, Sen. Bill Nelson, calling it a good balance.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
