Senate Candidates Conflict on Tax Cuts and Reforming Washington

The candidates in the U.S. Senate race tackled reforming Washington and tax cuts in their freewheeling debate. Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek noted that he was vacating a safe congressional seat to run for the Senate because he was frustrated with the way Washington worked.

Republican House Speaker Marco Rubio also talked about his frustrations with Washington. I believe both parties are to blame for whats going on in Washington, said Rubio.

I think both parties are to blame, agreed Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running without party affiliation. Thats why I am running as an independent. Crist tore into the Republicans again for looking to overturn Roe vs. Wade and for supporting SB 6.

Asked about extending tax cuts backed by President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003 and whether they would increase the debt, Rubio praised the measures. Our debt problem is because Washington cant control spending, insisted Rubio.

Meek said that Rubios support of the tax cuts would help the wealthy and damage the middle class, saddling them with debt. Meek then added that he was the only candidate in the race fighting for the middle class.

Crist said he backed extending the taxes. This is the wrong time to raise taxes on anything, he said -- before firing away at Rubio for supporting raising property taxes and for backing earmarks.

Crist and Rubio then engaged in banter about who was more of a fiscal conservative during the budgetary process in Tallahassee.