Twelve Republican members of the Florida congressional delegation sent off a letter to Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who is running for re-election in 2012, demanding that he back cuts to federal spending.
The 12 members of Congress -- Sandy Adams, Gus Bilirakis, Connie Mack, Jeff Miller, Rich Nugent, Bill Posey, David Rivera, Tom Rooney, Dennis Ross, Steve Southerland, Cliff Stearns and Allen West -- signed off on the letter. Mack and Rooney have both been mentioned as possible candidates to take on Nelson in 2012.
The congressmen referred to the continuing resolution (CR) that passed the Republican-controlled U.S. House Tuesday and the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate Wednesday. It will keep the federal government funded for two more weeks. Arguing that the House version cut $4 billion, the congressmen urged Nelson to join them in reducing the size and scope of the federal government.
We urge you to be a strong voice in favor of cutting spending significantly while averting a government shutdown, wrote the congressmen to Nelson. As you know, unless Congress can agree to a CR before March 18, the federal government will essentially close. For the millions of Americans, including many in Florida, who rely on federal services like the Veterans Administration and the Social Security Administration, this shutdown would prove devastating.
The Republicans pointed to the budget passed by the U.S. House Feb. 19 -- which is $100 billion smaller than the one proposed by President Barack Obama -- and attacked the Democratic leadership for standing in the way of reducing government.
Reducing our out-of-control deficit is the single most important action Congress can take to rebuild our economy and reduce unemployment, insisted the congressmen. Unfortunately, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated that the Democratic leadership will not support the significant spending cuts that the American people have demanded and economists agree our country needs.
The American people have made it clear that the status quo of out-of-control spending and trillion-dollar deficits is unacceptable, continued the congressmen. A spending freeze, as proposed by President Obama and endorsed by some in the Senate, will not solve our fiscal crisis.
We hope you will support our efforts to cut spending and keep the government running.As our senior senator, your voice and your vote will be critical to passing a long-term CR that includes the level of spending cuts that the people of Florida and voters across America have demanded, wrote the congressmen in conclusion. Now that the Senate has passed the two-week, stopgap measure, please use this opportunity to follow the Houses lead, and the American peoples instructions, and pass a long-term CR that includes significant spending cuts.
Various Republican members of the Florida delegation called for the Senate to follow the Houses lead.
The Senate needs to listen to the American people, who are calling out for significant, immediate spending cuts, Rooney said on Wednesday. If families across Florida can respond to the economic downturn by cutting back and setting priorities in their budgets, why cant the federal government?
Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, who did not sign the letter and who may take on Nelson in 2012, agreed.
Now, more than ever, we must do everything possible to reduce spending and grow the economy said Buchanan on Tuesday. It is my hope the Senate will act quickly to address the long-term spending reductions already approved by the House.
While Nelson and Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio backed the spending measure on Wednesday, both parties are digging in -- and taking shots at the other side.
I will work across the aisle to root out wasteful spending, but not at the expense of good jobs, a strong middle class, and a growing economy for the American people, noted Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, pointing to a Washington Post article about a study that claims the Republican budget could cost the nation 700,000 jobs.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
