Connie Mack Backs Curt Clawson to Replace Trey Radel in Congress

Former U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., announced on Tuesday that he was backing businessman Curt Clawson in the special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., in Congress. Mack held the seat until 2012 when he ran for the U.S. Senate but was defeated by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. Radel won the seat but resigned earlier this year after pleading guilty to cocaine possession.

Our deficits and debts continue to diminish our freedoms as Americans and it is time to do something about it, Mack said on Tuesday. I am very concerned about the national debt and the impact it is going to have on future generations, as well as the weight it is putting on todays economy.

Mack showcases his Penny Plan which would reduce federal spending by 1 percent each year. During his time in Congress and when running against Nelson in 2012, Mack highlighted his plan which won the support of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

I proposed the Penny Plan to reduce federal spending by 1 percent a year, Mack said. Thats just one penny out of every federal dollar. Everyone in America has had to do that, businesses have had to do that and now its time that our federal government does it. The Penny Plan works and it needs to be the focus of our governments attention.

Sometimes it takes outsiders from outside the political process to step up and lead to change the direction of our country, Mack continued. Ronald Reagan, Rand Paul, and others have come from outside the process to fundamentally change the direction of our country. Curt Clawson is a businessman who has experience in making tough decisions to cut spending and save jobs. There arent too may former CEOs of $2.2 billion companies with experience at that level who are willing to offer themselves as a candidate for Congress.

Curt Clawson has endorsed the Penny Plan and has added it to his Clawson Economic Growth Plan," Mack added. The combination of 5 percent growth and 1 percent cuts would put our country on a path to recovery and growth that we havent seen in decades.

Simply put, I am concerned that most politicians dont have the strength of their resolve in order to make these tough choices, Mack concluded. It will take an outsider to help us accomplish this goal and ultimately pass the Penny Plan. For these reasons, I endorse Curt Clawson for Congress and look forward to working with him to make the Penny Plan a reality.

Clawson takes on Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, and former state Rep. Paige Kreegel in the April 22 primary.