Nat’l Republicans take another whack at Charlie Crist over tax reform bill

crist 08.30

Like most House Democrats, St. Petersburg Congressman Charlie Crist voted against the GOP tax reform bill that passed last Thursday.

The House’s tax overhaul reduces the number of individual tax brackets, cuts the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent and curbs other tax breaks and deductions.

The plan, in total, would lower taxes on all income groups on average in 2019, but the Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that some Americans would eventually see tax increases.

Democrats are depicting the bill as a tax cut for wealthy Americans and corporations, with middle-class families footing the bill — an issue they say they’ll be happy to run against Republicans next year.

The National Republican Congressional Committee thinks the public will side with Republicans, and they’re targeting 25 Democrats who they believe are in vulnerable districts in new 15-second digital ads that are running on Facebook.

Crist defeated Republican David Jolly by 3.8 points in 2016. Jolly says he’ll decide by January if he’ll challenge Crist again in 2018.

A new digital ad that began airing Friday depicts the former Florida governor as out of touch with his voters.

A similar ad is being run against Orlando area Democrat Stephanie Murphy.

“If anyone is looking for Stephanie Murphy or Charlie Crist — they were last seen bowing to their party bosses instead of providing essential tax relief for the people who need it most: the middle-class,” said NRCC spokesperson Maddie Anderson. “It’s a shame Stephanie Murphy and Charlie Crist couldn’t be a part of historic tax reform simply because of their unwavering allegiance to Nancy Pelosi.”

Mitch Perry

Mitch Perry has been a reporter with Extensive Enterprises since November of 2014. Previously, he served five years as political editor of the alternative newsweekly Creative Loafing. Mitch also was assistant news director with WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa from 2000-2009, and currently hosts MidPoint, a weekly talk show, on WMNF on Thursday afternoons. He began his reporting career at KPFA radio in Berkeley and is a San Francisco native who has lived in Tampa since 2000. Mitch can be reached at [email protected].


2 comments

  • Bill Newton

    November 20, 2017 at 4:09 pm

    All Democrats voted NO on the tax bill. This tax bill is especially bad for Floridians because it has a 20% excise tax on reinsurance. That will raise insurance costs for all Floridians. We bear the brunt of this because we use the most insurance and we depend on offshore reinsurance. It’s estimated this tax alone will cost Floridians $250 million. FCAN applauds Rep. Crist for voting against this bill. It’s amazing that Republicans like Bill Posey will support a bill that hikes the deficit $1.5 trillion. How do they justify that? I thought the Freedom Caucus Repubs were against deficits, then they vote for the largest deficit ever!

  • Dan

    November 20, 2017 at 5:39 pm

    Nice False talking point… Every Floridian will have their Federal Income Tax personal deduction doubled. That means $0 taxes for the first 12,000 for singles and $24,000 for couples. If the Senate version is added, you will not be forced to buy over priced products from HMOs or Pay an additional ObamaCare Tax. Mortgage Interest is limited to $10,000 so only those with $Million homes will pay more. The majority of Floridians are way below $1,000,000 home. The middle class the Democrats refer to that may pay more is the $250,000 income earner in NY, not Florida. Even Child Care Credits increase and you don’t need to ITEMIZE… It seems they are selling a bill of goods for Millionaires and supporting the Life Styles of Criminal Politicians in NY, NJ, & CA.

Comments are closed.


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