Crist on stimulus: ‘I think it’s pretty clear I supported the concept’
by George Bennett | November 12th, 2009
Obama, Crist at Fort Myers stimulus lovefest
Crist’s stimulus stance has been a hot issue in his Republican Senate primary against former House Speaker Marco Rubio.
Crist enraged conservatives in February when he stood with President Obama at a pro-stimulus rally in Fort Myers. But Crist recently told CNN “I didn’t endorse it. I didn’t even have a vote on the darned thing. But I understood that it was going to pass and I wanted to be able to utilize it for the benefit of my fellow Floridians.”
Today, after an appearance at a joint meeting of the state Board of Education and the Board of Governors for the state’s higher education system, Crist was asked about his position on the stimulus.
“I support it. I think it was important to take it. All of my fellow governors did so,” Crist told reporters at The Scripps Research Institute.
“….We would have had to let go 20,000 school teachers if we didn’t have that. My belief always has been that Florida deserves her fair share. And it’s helping our economy. Without those additional funds we would have a much more difficult time maintaining not only our economy but job growth and job retention.”
Asked if he would have voted for stimulus bill if he were a Senator, Crist replied: “I would have voted for a different form. But I think it’s pretty clear I supported the concept.”
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November 12th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
[...] and forth he goes: Crist enraged conservatives in February when he stood with President Obama at a pro-stimulus rally [...]
November 14th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Charlie is a lackluster Governor, and betrayed his liberal sentiments. We do not need more of that.
Gramp
November 14th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Sure he saved 20,000 teachers and Florida lost a million private sector jobs. Great work, Charlie! How about the government loses jobs so the private sector can gain them. That would be a stimulus that works.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
dang you guys. give him a break. he (would, maybe) have voted FOR the stimulus…before (he might) have voted AGAISNT it. see?? thats worked before…er….
charlie, next time vote “present” ok? thats HAS worked. quite well.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
20,000 teaching jobs lost? I don’t think so. If that was the case doesn’t it make sense that someone thought the school system could shed 20,000 teaching jobs to save money without violating the class size laws in the first place? Isn’t that saying we have 20,000 expendable teacher to begin with?
November 14th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
This is almost creepy! Each statement Charlie issues makes him more and more a GOP version of John Kerry!
Rubio is where we need to be!
November 14th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Crist-yes I passed the stimulus-that has saved or created 20,000 jobs that were never in jeopardy in the first place and then the unions were kept quiet because we were able to give the contracted raises to those teachers that falls in line with the increase in their union dues fees. Those same teachers who are responsible for our overwhelmingly successful public education system with the terrifically low drop out rate.
November 14th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Charlie had the chance to make some tough decisions and prove he was a Republican. Instead, he made decisions that proved he’s a RINO. You don’t use the limited amount of funds available to save jobs for teachers. I’d bet Charlie that we wouldn’t have lost 20,000 teachers, if he didn’t take the money, however, let’s just say he’s right, what’s he going to do this year, now that the stimulus hasn’t worked and he’s going to be short the money Obama and company fronted him?
Obama and company have done nothing to stimulate the economy, they’ve only stimulated SEIU people and other union types. Good for them, bad for the country.
November 14th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
One more short comment, has anyone looked at the stimulus projects the Palm Beach Post has listed? Does anyone remember the phrase “shovel ready”? I defy the Palm Beach Post to tell us how many jobs have been “created” with this stimulus money! Don’t talk about saved because many of those jobs would have been saved by maneuvering money around, I’m only talking about created.
There is no way for this stimulus to work, none. It wasn’t designed to work. I don’t know what it was designed for but stimulus is not one of them.
If the gang that drafted this legislation isn’t voted out next year, it will be an absolute shame. If the Republicans that voted for this sham, aren’t voted out next year, it will be an absolute shame.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Lets not forget good ol Charlie supports Cap & Trade. Also, take a look at his state website and you will find that he is quite proud of not having laid off any state employees, paid the increase in their health insurance premiums and because they will not get raises this year, he will give them a $1,000.00 bonus. I am sure happy that the state employees will not suffer like the rest of us low life tax payers. No more Rinos.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Good heavens, what a bunch of nonsense Crist is spewing. 20,000 teachers? He’s insane. That’s an annual cost of over $1.5 billion per year — is Crist saying they used $7.5 billion in stimulus funds solely for 20,000 existing teachers’ jobs for the next five years?
Florida, not only is your Governor a liberal; he’s either a liar or an idiot, too.
November 14th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Jerome you are almost right, he is a liar and in idiot both
December 8th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
[...] “I support it [the stimulus]. I think it was important to take it. All of my fellow governors did so. … I would have voted for a different form. But I think it’s pretty clear I supported the concept.” — Crist, 11/12/09 [...]
December 11th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
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