Mike McCalister Backs 'Cut, Cap and Balance' Pledge

Businessman and retired Army officer Mike McCalister, who is running in a crowded Republican primary to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, signed the Cut, Cap and Balance pledge on Monday. The pledge opposes raising the federal debt limit and backs a balanced federal budget and lower spending. The measure is backed by a number of prominent conservative organizations, including FreedomWorks, Club for Growth and the Family Research Council. Some of McCalisters chief rivals for the Republican nomination -- namely former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, state Senate President Mike Haridopolos and former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner -- have also signed the pledge.

"Federal spending is out of control, said McCalister on Monday. Since President Obama took office, the national debt has increased by nearly $4 trillion. Politicians from both parties have failed us when it comes to spending. We must send more political outsiders like me to our nation's capital to cut, cap, and balance the budget.

"Raising taxes is not the answer to our budget deficit problem, added McCalister. Republicans in Congress should not give in to Democrats' demands to raise taxes in exchange for cuts to the budget."

McCalister promised to oppose raising the debt limit unless the federal government faced substantial cuts in spending, spending caps were enacted and a balanced budget amendment was passed.