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Pasco County News | Breaking News

Fasano scolds Rubio; Rubio scolds back

Posted Nov 12, 2009 by Tom Jackson

Updated Nov 12, 2009 at 06:36 PM

The squabble over who hated the Obama stimulus before they loved it and then hated it once again—or is it the inverse?—just keeps getting better. Now state Sen. Mike Fasano, the New Port Richey Republican, surrogate for Gov. Charlie Crist and an infamous political in-fighter, has weighed in ... only to further muddy the waters.

Plainly, this stimulus-endorsement issue is one the governor would just like to have go away, but Rubio isn’t about to let that happen. For good reason: Sunshine State unemployment is running above 11 percent and there’s little convincing evidence stimulus spending has done anything but preserve or expand government while sinking the federal treasury desperately deeper in the hole.

That said, here is Thursday’s fascinating exchange of letters, the first from Fasano to Rubo:

Dear Marco:

I was disappointed by your recent comments in the media wrongly criticizing me over the stimulus dollars. Marco, as you know, all Republican members of the Florida House of Representatives, all but one Republican member of the Florida Senate, and every Republican Governor in the United States accepted stimulus money.

I believe that if you were in the Florida House of Representatives, you too would have voted to accept these dollars in order to protect our seniors, protect our school children, and keep from adding to our struggling resident’s tax burden. To recklessly lash out at those who are fighting in the trenches to cut spending, cut waste, reduce property taxes, reduce property insurance, and ensure that critical needs are funded is not only disingenuous, it demonstrates a lack of maturity.

Marco, you give a great speech that excites many, but you are woefully unable to provide solid solutions to the real problems the citizens of Florida face. It is easy when you are not in office to lob bombs at those who still are, but that, my friend, is not statesmanship. While many are ensuring that the most vulnerable of Floridians, our seniors, veterans, children, and consumers are protected and provided for, you continue your political rhetoric.

If you somehow cling to the stance that you would have refused stimulus dollars, my question to you is this: Knowing the state had a $6 billion reduction in revenue, how would you have balanced the state’s budget without hurting our seniors, veterans, children, and consumers? The citizens of Florida have the right to know your answer now and not next week, next month, or next year. My constituents await your answer. Concrete answers are needed please, Marco, and not more campaign talking points.

I look forward to your response.

Yours truly,

Mike Fasano
State Senator

And the Rubio campaign’s response:

Dear Senator Fasano:

Thank you for your letter regarding Governor Crist’s strong support for the Obama Stimulus. Or should we say his former support for the Obama Stimulus? Or is he supporting it again today? Regardless, thank you for your letter.

As the St. Petersburg Times has already reported, your letter misrepresents Marco Rubio’s position on the Stimulus package. Unless you have followed Gov. Crist’s lead and changed your position, Mr. Rubio agrees with you that Governor Crist was wrong to endorse it .

As you know, Rubio believes the Obama-Crist Stimulus to be an incredible waste of taxpayer money and a massive failure. (Speaking of wasting taxpayer money, we noticed you sent your campaign letter using your official Florida Senate email.)

Regarding the Obama-Crist Stimulus, we agree that the public deserves to know both candidates’ positions – in great detail. While Marco Rubio has been consistent in his opposition to the stimulus, Governor Crist has seemingly been debating himself and taking multiple and contradictory positions.

This has only added to the confusion voters have about his beliefs.

This is why, for months, Marco Rubio has been asking for a series of debates with Governor Crist. In addition, one of these debates should be solely about the Stimulus package because Republican primary voters should know where the candidates stand on this important issue.

Thus far, Governor Crist has refused to debate Rubio.

Unless you have recently changed your mind as well, you are both an opponent of the stimulus and a fervent Charlie Crist supporter. Therefore, you are in a unique position to help facilitate these debates. These debates will offer your candidate, Charlie Crist, the opportunity to outline all the benefits that almost $800 billion of deficit spending has brought to Florida and the country.

Thank you once again for taking the time to write. We look forward to your response and assistance in helping make these debates between Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist a reality.

Sincerely,

Alex Burgos
Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate

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