Adam Putnam Backs Connie Mack to Challenge Bill Nelson

On Tuesday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced that he was backing U.S. Rep. Connie Mack for the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November.

Too many good ideas are dying in the U.S. Senate at the hands of liberals Harry Reid and Bill Nelson, Putnam said in a statement on Tuesday. I am keenly aware of changing energy policy, and Connie has led the fight on building the Keystone XL Pipeline, even holding the first hearing in the U.S. Congress more than a year ago. Recently his legislative language to authorize the building of the pipeline without the approval of Barack Obama passed the U.S. House in a bipartisan vote and was killed in the Senate after Barack Obama called 11 Democratic senators, and sadly Bill Nelson got one of those phone calls.

As former chairman of the Republican Policy Committee and Republican Conference in the House, I saw this happen all too frequently, but it was the strength and determination of members like Connie that kept the agenda moving in the conservative direction, and Senator Rubio needs an ally, not someone married to the liberal agenda of Barack Obama in Washington, Putnam added.

Adam Putnam is part of the generation that is streamlining government for the future, and I am honored to have his backing, Mack said. When I came to Congress, Adam was already a respected leader in our caucus and all of us in Florida appreciate his efforts to get the EPA off our backs and let Florida determine their own water standards. So thank you, Adam, and thank you for your confidence in my candidacy for the U.S. Senate.