A.G. Gancarski
Congress passed a massive $900 billion stimulus bill Monday night with just six no votes, and a Florida Republican in the Senate was one.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, protesting that “Washington is broken,” said Monday the bill is too big and too costly for legislators to pass.
“Early this afternoon, we were finally provided the text of the combined $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and $900 billion COVID relief bill. It is almost 5,600 pages long and we’re expected to vote on it tonight. Who in their right mind thinks that this [is] a responsible way of governing?”
“This crisis has devastated American small businesses and American workers and I support many of the COVID-related provisions to boost small businesses, prevent further layoffs and enhance unemployment assistance — provisions that are necessary because of the recklessness of the Chinese Communist Party and the overzealous shutdowns by politicians here in America who do not know what it is like to struggle for money or for work,” Scott said.
The Senator is “also glad this package does not include state bailouts, which I’ve been fighting for months, and makes reforms to the Federal Reserve, which provides further protections to ensure taxpayer dollars are not wasted.”
The Senator wasn’t done, however. Despite the omission of bailout money for state and local governments that Scott inveighed against for months, Scott stressed that he was down on the bill.
“But, in classic Washington style, vital programs are being attached to an omnibus spending bill that mortgages our children and grandchildren’s futures without even giving members a chance to read it. We are not spending money we have in the bank or anticipate we will collect in taxes. Washington doesn’t seem to understand that new spending today will be paid for by increased federal debt and result in a tax increase on families down the road.
“We have to stop operating this way; there is no excuse for the way Washington treats the American taxpayers. I’ve repeatedly voted against enormous and wasteful spending bills. The easy route is simply to go along as Congress continues to do harm to future generations of Americans, but I will not be a part of it,” Scott maintained.
Scott was joined by five of his Republican colleagues, but not Sen. Marco Rubio, in opposing the measure.
The Senator was praised for his stance Tuesday afternoon, with Americans for Prosperity – Florida State Director Skylar Zander thanking Scott for “rejecting this package that contains billions of dollars in spending unrelated to COVID and reads more like a Christmas wish list for special interests.”
8 comments
Tjb
December 21, 2020 at 7:49 pm
Hey Rick, why not give back the money you stole from Medicare and the American taxpayers when you were the CEO at ColumbiaHCA. You can give back the money to Americans families so they will not be in debt.
Sandy
December 21, 2020 at 10:42 pm
Considering the permanent tax cut the wealthy got a few years ago, which has not stimulated the economy (and never will), perhaps Scott can exhale some grace and help the middle class struggling with a pandemic and economic recession. He doesn’t complain about tax breaks for billionaires, but has been willing to see his constituents evicted and hungry. This is not representation.
Sonja Fitch
December 22, 2020 at 4:42 am
Uh ah old Nazi Rick please please please host me for lunch with one of them there tax free 3 martinis lunches! Nazi Rick wants to be president! Nana boo! Resign Nazi Rick! Trump is a loser! Nazi Rick it comes naturally for you to be an asshole! But we in Florida shall be going Democrat Blue in 2022!
DisplacedCTYankee
December 22, 2020 at 5:33 am
The Vietnam War and the U.S. manned space program mortgaged *my* future.
Frankie M.
December 22, 2020 at 6:46 am
I love the faux outrage. The old do as I say and not as I do routine.
During his tenure as chief executive, the company defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and other federal programs. The Department of Justice ultimately fined the company $1.7 billion in what was at the time the largest health care fraud settlement in U.S. history. Scott was not charged with a crime.
Ocean Joe
December 22, 2020 at 9:10 am
In keeping with the season, I think we must give Rick a break. It amazes me that a guy who claims he grew up in government housing seems so cavalier about getting help to those who need it.
Use Yer Head
December 22, 2020 at 11:13 am
This bald headed prick is such a disgrace. He stole millions in Medicare funds, is worth about $100 million because of it, and thinks money for struggling families with children is “wasteful spending”.
And Rubio, the coward, made sure he was among the first to get a vaccine after helping spread the virus by way of attending and hosting super spreader Trump rallies, all while denying the virus was deadly.
The governor is wielding a position he won by less than a percentage point like a gestapo leader, sending armed state cops into the home of a mother with small kids because she exposed his careless mismanagement of Covid.
Sadly, this is what a majority of Florida voters cast their ballots for and it is unbelievably ridiculous.
Scott, Rubio, Desantis–these idiots aren’t leaders: They are lying opportunists, thieves, and transparently corrupt, bumbling buffoons.
Palmer Tom
December 22, 2020 at 12:32 pm
Fake deficit hawk. People are hurting and being evicted and he’s quibbling over minor partisan peeves.
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