In the News
Florida Editorials: Scott-Rubio Tax Plan Is “Un-American” And “Absurd”
The Republican Party’s new agenda to raise taxes on millions of Americans, including Florida seniors and working families, recently got Marco Rubio’s full support. As WFTV reported, Rubio “says he supports the tax hike.” Meanwhile, editorial boards across the state have panned the GOP’s plan as “un-American” and “absurd.” As the Orlando Sentinel wrote, “none of it should happen.”
See below for more highlights from recent editorials slamming the new tax plan Marco Rubio endorsed:
Miami Herald: Rick Scott’s plan isn’t about “rescuing” America. It’s much more mercenary than that
- Florida Sen. Rick Scott has an 11-point plan to “rescue” America. For the “Too Long; Didn’t Read” crowd, we’ll summarize: He’s trying to scare people silly.
- Scott wants Floridians to be afraid and then to be angry, because that is an emotion the people in power can harness for their own political gains.
- Scott’s plan isn’t about governing. It’s not some glorious vision for “rescuing” America. No, this is about something much more mercenary. It’s about stoking anger and division as a political strategy. It’s about getting elected and staying elected, pure and simple. And no amount of smoke and mirrors — not even from a flaming Declaration of Independence — can cover that up.
Orlando Sentinel & South Florida Sun Sentinel: Rick Scott’s un-American plan to ‘rescue America’
- Even some GOP Senate candidates privately criticized the document — and Scott’s timing. “This plan,” Scott wrote, “is not for the faint of heart.” It’s not for anyone who wants to win a Senate race this year, either.
- The richest man in Congress demands that the roughly 50% of Americans who pay no income tax pony up, to get some “skin in the game.” Mitt Romney tried that when he ran for president in 2012. He disparaged less affluent Americans as “victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them.” Romney, worth about $200 million at the time, advised them to “take personal responsibility.” How did that work out for him?
- Finally, there’s the rank hypocrisy between Scott’s words and his actions. Some examples:
- Scott claims that Democrats have “given up on democracy.” This from the man who voted against certifying the Pennsylvania election results and thus became part of Donald Trump’s effort to subvert the Constitution by overturning Joe Biden’s legitimate victory.
- Scott wants to “build supply chains that rely on American workers.” He criticizes “communist China.” But last year, Scott voted against a bill that would create new domestic supply chains and boost scientific research to counter China.
- None of what Scott proposes will happen. None of it should happen.
- For the moment, Scott is irrelevant — even in his home state. “Rescue America,” with its accompanying ad campaign, looks like Scott’s attempt to gain ground in the rivalry with DeSantis.
- In fact, Scott and Florida’s other senator, Marco Rubio, who spoke Friday at CPAC, have made themselves irrelevant. They both opposed the China competitiveness bill that got 18 GOP votes. They opposed the infrastructure bill that will bring $13 billion to Florida.
- “Rescue America” is a frivolous document from a frivolous politician. Scott says of his GOP colleagues, “Americans deserve to know what we will do when we get the chance to govern.” Fellow Americans, you have been warned.
Palm Beach Post: For better or worse, Rick Scott lists what GOP stands for
- Scott’s heart isn’t the issue. It’s his judgment that has been called into question. Many of his ideas are impractical. Some border on the absurd.
- So, give Scott credit. He did what his colleagues are reluctant to do. No beating around the bush. No fear of exposing the party as wrong-headed, inhumane, hypocritical, what have you. Scott put his dubious party platform down on paper for all the world to see.
- Scott thinks all Americans should have “skin in the game,” by paying some form of income tax, no matter their incomes. His idea drew immediate criticism from Democrats who pointed out such a plan would hit the poor and seniors particularly hard. Republicans who normally eschew any talk of raising taxes also criticized the idea.
- Scott is no Senate backbencher. As chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, he’s in a position of influence and seen as a rising star with higher ambitions, whether it’s a future presidential run or vying for leadership in the U.S. Senate.
- Whatever the motivation, the proverbial toothpaste is out of the tube. Thanks to Scott, voters now have a clearer idea of what they can expect from Republican candidates before the 2022 and 2024 elections.
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