In one of the competitive three-way races in the country, Floridian Senatorial candidates represent starkly different potential spending agendas, differing by as much as $250 billion in possible cost increases or spending cuts. NTU Foundation has released analyses on all three front-running candidates who hope to be Florida’s next Senator. Data was collected from campaign statements, transcripts of debates, and new sources to generate line-by-line candidate financial summaries.
NTUF 2010 Florida U.S. Senate Candidate Spending Analysis Findings Dollar Figures Are in Billions | |||
Spending Categories | |||
Economy, Transportation, and Infrastructure | $3.476 | $40.572 | Unknown |
Education, Science, and Research | $0.609 | Unknown | $.003 |
Energy, Agriculture, and the Environment | $2.837 | $51.54 | $0.019 |
Federal Government | Unknown | $0.326 | -$154.22 |
Health Care | Unknown | $3.903 | $0.062 |
Homeland Security and Law Enforcement | Unknown | $0.002 | $0.03 |
National Defense and International Relations | Unknown | $0.204 | Unknown |
Veterans | Unknown | $1.109 | $0.814 |
Miscellaneous | $0.03 | $0.331 | Unknown |
Total | $3.476 | $97.987 | -$153.292 |
| Source: National Taxpayers Union Foundation | |||
Charlie Crist, currently serving as Florida’s Governor, would increase federal spending by almost 3.5 billion. Out of his 11 identified spending proposals, three would increase federal outlays, none would decrease them, and eight had unknown effects.
Kendrick Meek, currently serving as Florida’s 17th Congressional District Congressman, would increase federal spending by more than $97 billion. NTUF was able to identify 20 campaign items that would change federal spending, of which 13 would increase spending, one would reduce costs, and six items were not possible to score. Meek’s single savings proposal was repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” policy, which would result in a $36 million spending cut. However, a recent court ruling on this measure may preclude this issue before the 112th Congress convenes.
Marco Rubio, currently serving as the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, would decrease federal spending by some $153 billion. In 32 campaign statements, seven would raise expenditures, five would lower them, and 20 could not be financially scored. Rubio’s cost cutting proposals include a 10% operational budget cut for the White House and Congress, a non-defense/non-veterans discretionary spending freeze, reductions in the federal workforce and salaries, and diverting remaining stimulus funds to national debt payments.
NTUF has already released election research studies covering the Pennsylvania Senatorial race and plans to publish additional reports on other contentious Senate races from around the country in the coming weeks.