Tying Gov. Charlie Crist to Democrats on Capitol Hill, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio said Florida and America are "paying the price for a lack of leadership."
"If you like the direction things are going, there are two other people on the ballot for you," Rubio said in reference to the "independent" Crist and whoever wins the Democratic nomination.
And challenging backsliding Republicans to stand up for free-enterprise principles, the former Florida House speaker said, "We don't need two Democratic parties."
Rubio on Friday received the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and used the occasion to warn about tax increases that are coming Jan. 1 unless Congress reverses course.
"The United States is the most uncertain place in the world to do business today because of the uncertain tax climate," the Miami Republican said.
"You'd be amazed at who the Obama administration considers 'rich'. If your company has revenues of $200,000, they're coming after you," he warned. "Tax increases are coming for more than 70 percent of U.S. manufacturing companies and 20 million S-Corp businesses."
In a conference call, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Bill Miller echoed those concerns, explaining, "This is one of the main reason we're investing so much in the elections. (Washington) is not focusing on private-sector job creation."
While Miller emphasized the need to reform Washington, Rubio criticized Crist on the same grounds.
"During my time as speaker, we had significant run-ins on property tax reform," Rubio recalled. "It was like a night-and-day difference with Jeb Bush. It's been a discouraging environment, particularly over the last two years."
Since Crist took office in 2007, Florida's unemployment rate has tripled and taxes have increased.
But the news hasn't been bad for one business that blandished Crist with campaign contributions over the years. Thanks to the Crist-engineering purchase of U.S. Sugar land, the company stands to receive $536 million from the state while continuing to work the 73,000-acre tract.
The controversial acquisition, which purports to restore a portion of the Everglades, will actually produce a "tragic result," Rubio said.
"Good environmental projects will have to be canceled because money was taken away. And I don't care what the (South Florida Water Management District) board says, you will see property taxes increase to fund this bailout," he said.
The Crist campaign did not immediately respond to Sunshine States News' request for comment.
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
