WASHINGTON — In a series of votes that once again defined his Senate career as a reliable rubber-stamp for President Obama, Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) last night voted to impose a permanent new tax on Florida business owners to pay for another temporary stimulus bill, while also blocking a Republican effort to ensure captured terrorists are not offered the same rights as common criminals.  And he did this all within a one-hour period of time.

“Bill Nelson preaches about fiscal responsibility in Florida, but he votes like a typical tax-and-spend, big government liberal when he’s back in Washington,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox said today. “This vote defined a clear difference in next year’s Senate race – Nelson believes it’s the federal government that creates jobs with higher taxes and more spending, while Republicans believe it’s time for Democrats in Washington to get their boots off the backs of America’s small businesses.”

Nelson voted in support of Obama’s latest stimulus bill despite concerns raised by a coalition of business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, who noted that 80% of those impacted by the Democrats’ new tax are business owners and it would have a negative impact on investment income to grow businesses and create jobs.  Democrats also reversed their own positions, including President Obama, who said in 2009 that the last thing Congress should do is raise taxes in a recession.

In a separate vote last night, Nelson also stood with his liberal leaders in blocking a Republican effort, sponsored by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to ensure that captured terrorists are not offered the same due process rights as common criminals.  As the Washington Post reported, the Democrats’ vote to kill this measure handed “a victory” to President Obama.

“Once again, Bill Nelson stood behind President Obama, instead of standing up for Floridians who believe captured terrorists should be treated as enemy combatants instead of like common criminals.  This is the liberal mindset at its worst, but Bill Nelson apparently believes that captured terrorists should be treated nicely,” Wilcox concluded.

FLASHBACK….

While Florida’s unemployment rate has remained at 10.7 percent for three straight months, Senator Bill Nelson claims he can feel the recovery.

·         Reality: 2.2 Million Jobs Have Been Lost Since Obama Took Office. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 10/7/11)