Marco Rubio continues opposition to Senate jobless aid bill
7/20/2010

TAMPA -- Florida's unemployment rate may be stuck in the double digits, but Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio is standing with his party leaders in Washington in opposing the extension of unemployment benefits for millions of jobless Americans.

Only if specific cuts were identified to offset the $34 billion cost of extending benefits would he support it, Rubio said while campaigning in Tampa Monday.

``At some point someone has to draw a line in the sand and say we are serious about not growing debt,'' said the Miami Republican, the only major candidate for U.S. Senate in Florida who opposes extending benefits.

Benefits have expired for more than 2 million Americans, including nearly 200,000 Floridians, in recent months while the Republican senators have repeatedly blocked efforts to extend benefits to the long-term unemployed, insisting that the $34-billion cost be offset by other spending cuts or unspent stimulus funds.

``Gov. Crist supports the extension of unemployment benefits. In these challenging economic times, we have an obligation to help people keep a roof over their heads and provide for their families while looking for gainful employment,'' a spokeswoman for Charlie Crist's independent campaign said Monday -- the day before a key vote in which Democrats plan to swear in a new senator from West Virginia, giving them the votes to overcome a GOP-led filibuster.

Democrats are seeking to turn the unemployment benefits debate into a wedge issue against Republicans, who in turn hope to capitalize on the growing concern about the federal government's debt and spending.

Rubio picked up the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Business and met with a group of small business owners Monday at the Tampa Bay Brewing Company.

The two leading Democrats in the race, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami and businessman Jeff Greene of Palm Beach, favor extending jobless benefits.

``He's reading right off the hard-right song sheet,'' Meek said of Rubio.

Greene criticized Republicans for giving the wealthiest Americans billions of dollars in tax cuts, and then obstructing assistance for the unemployed.

``The American people, and especially American workers, deserve a government that will not turn their back on them in time of need,'' Greene said.

Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Sen. George LeMieux are expected to vote with their respective party positions Tuesday.


Source: The Miami Herald