Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Marco Rubio vowed to “restore the American Dream” and took a swing at the tax plans of his opponents — both Republican and Democrat — during a speech in Sarasota on Monday.
“The purpose of my presidency, when it comes to economics, will be to restore the American Dream,” said Rubio during his stop at Marine Concepts in Sarasota. “And I will start by re-embracing free enterprise.”
Rubio continued: “Here’s what Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton don’t understand about free enterprise: In a free enterprise system, the president does not run the economy. The president’s job is to ensure policies are in place that will allow the private sector to succeed, because it is the private sector that creates jobs and opportunity.”
Rubio used the 25-minute speech to outline his economic plan. He told the crowd of about 500 that he would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare; cap the amount regulations can cost our economy; and “shred Obama’s job-killing executive orders.”
The Florida Republican also said he does not “support new taxes of any kind, because what our country needs is economic growth.”
“There is no new tax that leads to economic growth,” he said.
Rubio said his plan would simplify and reduce taxes on individuals and businesses, calling it “pro-growth and pro-family.”
“From the individual to the business side, my free market reforms will make it easier for Americans to find jobs and easier for businesses to create them,” he said. “They will help everyone succeed and it will create not just millions of new jobs, but millions of better paying jobs.”
Rubio said he would strengthen family leave policies through tax reform. That effort, he said, would mean fewer parents would have to choose between “providing financially for their children and being there for them in times of crisis.” He said he would raise the per-child tax credit so “parents can keep more of their money” to put toward costs associated with raising a family.
Rubio took a swipe at Republicans who said they supported a value added tax. That tax, he said, would tax businesses at each stage of the production process.
The stop in Sarasota came just days before the next GOP debate, hosted by the Fox Business Network. That debate is scheduled for Thursday and is expected to focus on economic, domestic and international policy issues.
Rubio trails Republicans Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in the national polls, according to polling averages compiled by RealClearPolitics.
The Iowa caucuses, the first nominating contest of the 2016 cycle, are Feb. 1.
