U.S. Rep. Connie Mack dropped his bid to move up to the fifth-ranking position in the newly controlled Republican Congress Wednesday, but he took a big step toward challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.
Mack announced after the election earlier in November that he would challenge U.S. Rep. Tom Price of Georgia, currently the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, to head up the Republican Policy Committee. All last week, Mack sent out memos on various issues, ranging from immigration to international affairs, to his Republican colleagues. However, just as suddenly as he entered the race, Mack pulled out on Wednesday and backed Price. He also announced he was forming another congressional caucus: the Freedom Caucus.
When I decided to run for Republican Policy Committee chairman, I did so with the desire to help our conference carry out the will of the people, wrote Mack to his fellow congressional Republicans. Millions of our citizens had become disillusioned with their government, and voted to change our countrys course on Nov. 2nd.The fundamental issue was the federal governments refusal to listen to what the people demanded: less taxing, less spending, less government, and more freedom. Thankfully, our conference has the foresight to have the RPC, a dedicated group of leaders who focus specifically on listening to our citizens through their elected representatives.
If our conference is to be successful, we must come together to form a unified body that exerts the will of the people, added Mack. It is with that in mind that I have decided to end my campaign for chairman, and pledge my full support for my friend, Tom Price.Our country is in need of leadership, and I know that Tom will do an excellent job of working with members to develop their ideas into thoughtful policies.
Mack announced that he was creating his own group to fight for conservative ideals in Congress.
It is past time that Congress addresses the ideas that matter to the citizens, rather than fulfilling liberal, big government, wrote Mack.We must repeal Obamacare, cut wasteful spending, and get government out of people's lives. To that end, I would like to invite you to join my new working group, the Freedom Caucus.The Freedom Caucus will be uniquely positioned as a place where true conservative ideas are shared and put into action. In the coming days, I will be in touch to personally discuss your joining this group.
While Price had a base of support through the RSC, it is also clear that Mack had his eyes on another prize -- the U.S. Senate seat that his father held for two terms, currently occupied by Bill Nelson.
Mack penned a piece in the Orlando Sentinel that ran on Wednesday in which he took aim at Nelson on extending tax cuts backed by President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003 and which are currently being debated in Washington.
Admitting he was wrong to oppose the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 would be a first step for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson to signal he got the message in the recent citizen revolt, wrote Mack. Nelson has an opportunity to make amends and lead the charge for Senate Democrats to extend the Bush-era tax cuts in the lame-duck session of Congress. Studies have shown throughout history that a reduction in taxes actually increases government revenues. The tax relief, therefore, would not affect all of the spending programs Nelson supports; this should be a no-brainer.
In the piece, Mack attempted to link Nelson with Beltway Democrats -- a move that makes sense in the Sunshine State after Republicans routed the Democrats on Election Day across Florida.
Extending this tax relief, without carve-outs, would be the right first step for members of both parties, continued Mack. Although actions of this measure could be taken up in the House as early as this week, cries for support of these extensions have been silent from Bill Nelson and his liberal colleagues in the Senate.
Where Nelson, Sen. Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi miss the point time and again is that business relies on financial planning, and the uncertainty they place in the free market is stifling an economy already plagued by high unemployment, added Mack.
Mack has called for the repeal of new federal health-care laws backed by the Obama administration -- and attacked Nelsons support of the measures.
Nelson's passage of Obamacare does nothing for our retirees except increase consumer costs on a fixed-income community, insisted Mack.
But Mack will probably face serious competition in the Republican primary if he decides to launch a bid for the Senate. Outgoing U.S. Sen. George LeMieux and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, are also considering running against Nelson. Other candidates who have been mentioned include U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, newly elected U.S. Rep. Dan Webster and retired Col. Mike McCalister who took 10 percent in the Republican gubernatorial primary back in August.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
