Government
Marco Rubio Begins With Heart Full of Ambition for America
Around the State
Marco Rubio and family pose for pictures with VP Joe Biden after swearing in | Photo: Lane WrightSen. Marco Rubio officially has a new job and a whole lot of ambition to go with it.
On Wednesday afternoon Vice President Joe Biden swore Rubio in to the Senate. A couple hours before that, the Miami native laid out many of his priorities and some of his plans for how to change the country's course.
"I believe this country is headed in the wrong direction," Rubio said. "I believe both parties are to blame. I want to go to Washington, D.C. to stand up to the direction it's taking our country and offer a clear alternative."
When Rubio says he wants to "offer a clear alternative," it isn't just rhetoric. He's cautioned his own party against being of the "party of no," and attempts to set an example by offering real ideas.
He suggests rolling back discretionary spending to 2008 levels.
He also wants to take the politics out of the earmark system and find a better way to prioritize which projects get funded.
But cutting waste, discretionary spending and earmarks, are only part of his larger goal: reigning in the national debt.
"It cannot be continued to be put off," said Rubio. "The rest of the world and our creditors and our economy are looking at the decisions being made in Washington and they want to know right off the bat, 'are the people we just sent up there serious about dealing with this debt issue? Because if they're not, then we've got big problems.'"
Like his Republican colleagues, Rubio also wants to repeal "Obamacare," but offers commonsense ideas to address the health care problem. He wants to get a system in place that would allow people more choice over their health care options and let them pay for it with tax-free dollars. He would also create incentives for states to tackle tort reform, and allow businesses to pool together to purchase insurance from any company in the country.
As he stood, ready to walk down the aisle of the Senate floor with Sen. Bill Nelson and former Sen. Mel Martinez, Rubio's expression alternated back and forth from a beaming smile to a solemn stare -- perhaps reflecting the sober reality of the new responsibilities he'll face over the next six years in the U.S. Senate.
Lane Wright can be reached at lane@sunshinestatenews.com or 561-247-1063
Comments (3)
Additionally, I think the spending should be rolled back to 1984 levels. Rubio should not attack the "Party Of No." That is what the media, who are not the Republican friends made up. We cannot control what the media says, but we can say no every time the Democrats want to pass what is unconstitutional. Marco, I still have you bumper sticker on my car and I supported your campaign so I hope those statements were just rhetoric. Nothing the Commie-in-Chief has done in office is worthy of this country.
To quote "Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." (Words of Jesus Christ, Matthew 7:18) The Commie-in-Chief's fruit goes beyond bad and is treason.