Speaking on CBS’ 60 Minutes last night about the current problems in the Middle East, President Obama said:

“I was pretty certain and continue to be pretty certain that there are going to be bumps in the road…” (CBS’s “60 Minutes,” 9/23/12)

These are the same words he used about our economic problems in a speech last year:

“There are always going to be bumps on the road to recovery.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks, Toledo, OH, 6/3/11)

“It’s typical of President Obama and the Democrat leadership to dismiss serious problems as being ‘bumps in the road’.  While they might just be inconvenient to them, to everyone else, these ‘bumps in the road’ are real and they amount to some of the biggest diplomatic and economic challenges we��ve seen in our lifetime,” NRSC spokesman Jahan Wilcox said today.  “Bill Nelson needs to tell Floridians whether he shares President Obama’s casual view of the position we’re in. Voters want and expect strong leadership from Government and real policy solutions, and these are things we are not seeing from Democrats in Washington these days.”

President Obama and congressional Democrats are dismissive of these problems even as evidence mounts about the scale of the challenges this country faces. On the economy, the recovery continues to be long, slow and hard for families across America:

• More Than Twenty-Three Million Americans Are Unemployed, Underemployed, Or Have Stopped Looking For Work. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, 9/10/12)

• The Latest Jobs Report Showed The “Economy Slogged Along For The 43rd Month In A Row With Joblessness Above 8 Percent.” “American employers added 96,000 jobs in August, the Labor Department reported Friday. The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent as the economy slogged along for the 43rd month in a row with joblessness above 8 percent.” (Susanna Kim, “August Jobs Report: Unemployment Falls To 8.1 Percent,” ABC News, 9/7/12)

• In August, The Unemployment Rate Either Increased Or Was Unchanged In 38 States. “The Labor Department says rates increased in 26 states. They fell in 12 states and were unchanged in the other 12.��� (Christopher S. Rugaber, “Unemployment Rates Rise In Half Of US States,” The Associated Press, 9/21/12)

• “A Record 46.7 Million Americans Received Food Stamps In June…” “A record 46.7 million Americans received food stamps in June, up 0.4 percent from the previous month, the government said. Participation was 3.3 percent higher than a year earlier and has remained higher than 46 million all year as the unemployment rate has stagnated just above 8 percent. New jobless numbers will be released Sept. 7.” (Alan Bjera, “Food-Stamp Use Climbed To Record 46.7 Million In June, U.S. Says,” Bloomberg, 9/4/12)

In the Middle East, commentators worry about the direction the Middle East is taking:

• The Wall Street Journal: “Mideast Turmoil Spreads” (The Wall Street Journal, 9/14/12)

• Bloomberg: “U.S. Officials Concerned Over What Follows Arab Spring”(Bloomberg, 9/12/12)

• The Associated Press: “Arab Winter? Spreading Anti-American Unrest Prompts Debate On US Policy In The Arab World” (The Associated Press, 9/14/12)

• The New York Times: “U.S. Is Preparing For A Long Siege Of Arab Unrest” (The New York Times, 9/15/12)

The post NRSC TO BILL NELSON: ARE ECONOMIC AND DIPLOMATIC FAILURES JUST “BUMPS IN THE ROAD”??? appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

 It was a little more than two years ago, when liberal Democrat Bill Nelson rammed his $1.76 trillion healthcare bill through Congress, which cut over $700 billion from Medicare and today a new report details the exact impact this will have on Florida.

According to the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Business, these cuts will take approximately $44 billion from seniors in Florida who depend on Medicare.

• Over The Next 10 Years, ObamaCare Will Cut $44.4 Billion From Medicare Plans That Florida Seniors Rely On For Their Health Care Needs. (Robert A. Book and Michael Ramlet, “What Is The Regional Impact Of The Medicare Fee-For-Service And Medicare Advantage Payment Reductions,” University Of Minnesota’s Carlson School Of Management, 9/12)

Notably, earlier this week it was reported that those who disobey the individual mandate would be subjected to a fine of approximately $1,200.

“It’s simply remarkable that liberal Bill Nelson voted for a healthcare bill that cut $44 billion from seniors in Florida who depend on Medicare,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  “This non-partisan report is a sobering reminder that Bill Nelson’s liberal agenda is wrong for the Sunshine State.”

BACKGROUND….

Bill Nelson Cut $716 Billion From Medicare To Pay For Obamacare –  A Cut The Obama Campaign Now Refers To As An Achievement: 

According To The Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Obamacare Cuts $716 Billion From Medicare. (Congressional Budget Office, Letter To Speaker John Boehner, 7/24/12)

·       Miami Herald: “Obama’s $700 Billion Medicare-Cut Problem” (Marc Caputo, “Obama’s $700 Billion Medicare-Cut Problem,” Miami Herald, 8/12/12)

President Obama’s Senior Campaign Aide Has Bragged That President Obama “Achieved” $700 Billion In “Cuts In Medicare.” CUTTER: “Well, you know ask the wealthy to pay a little bit more. Cut waste from the government. Reform Medicare. More than $300 billion in savings from Medicare. On top of the savings we’ve already achieved. You know I heard Mitt Romney deride the $700 billion cuts in Medicare that the president achieved through health care reform.” (CBS’s “Face The Nation,” 8/12/12)

Nelson’s Medicare Cuts Will Jeopardize Benefits For Seniors – Reducing Access To Care And Driving Millions From Medicare Advantage:

The Medicare Actuary Has Estimated 15% Of “Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities, And Home Health Agencies” Will Be In The Red Before The Decade Is Over. “In the Office of the Actuary‘s April 22, 2010 memorandum on the estimated financial effects of the Affordable Care Act, we noted that by 2019 the update reductions would result in negative total facility margins for about 15 percent of hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies. This estimated percentage would continue to increase, reaching roughly 25 percent in 2030 and 40 percent by 2050. In practice, providers could not sustain continuing negative margins and, absent legislative changes, would have to withdraw from providing services to Medicare beneficiaries, merge with other provider groups, or shift substantial portions of Medicare costs to their non-Medicare, non-Medicaid payers.” (“Projected Expenditures Under An Illustrative Scenario With Alternative Payment Updates To Medicare Providers,” Center For Medicare & Medicaid Services, 5/13/11)

52 Percent Of Doctors Say Obamacare Will Compel Them To Close Or Significantly Restrict Their Practices To Medicare Patients. (Merritt Hawkins, “Health Reform and the Decline of Physician Private Practice,” The Physicians Foundation, October 2010)

Obamacare’s Cuts Will Cause Enrollment In Medicare Advantage To “Plummet By About 50 Percent” And Leave Seniors With “Higher Out-Of-Pocket Costs.” “In addition to flagging provider cuts as potentially unsustainable, the report [HHS] projected that reductions in payments to private Medicare Advantage plans would trigger an exodus from the popular alternative. Enrollment would plummet by about 50 percent. Seniors leaving the private plans would still have health insurance under traditional Medicare, but many might face higher out-of-pocket costs.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “Report Says Health Care Will Cover More, Cost More,” The Associated Press, 4/23/10)

·       The Medicare Trustees Project These Cuts Will Drive 4 Million Seniors Out Of Medicare Advantage Plans By 2018. (Medicare Trustees Report, 4/23/12)

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Nearly four years ago, President Barack Obama and liberal Democrat Bill Nelson rammed an $825 billion stimulus into law that was supposed to “create or save” 206,000 jobs in Florida, yet today’s jobs report reiterates that their failed economic policies are not working.

As the Wall Street Journal reports:

JOB GROWTH SLOWS SHARPLY IN AUGUST: Job growth slowed sharply in August, the Labor Department said Friday. Total nonfarm payrolls increased by 96,000, lower than the 125,000 gain expected by Wall Street economists.  Adding to the sense of weakness, job growth in the past two months were revised down by 41,000.  The unemployment rate declined to 8.1% in August from 8.3% in the previous month but the drop was due to a smaller labor force.  Economists forecast the unemployment rate to hold steady at 8.3%.  Average hourly earnings were flat at $23.52.  Earnings are up 1.7% in the past year. The average workweek was unchanged at 34.3 hours. (Greg Robb, Job growth slows sharply in August, Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch, 9/7/12)

Notably, according to Nelson and his fellow Democrats if their policies actually worked the national unemployment rate would be well below 6 percent by now.

“We’ve tried the failed policies of President Obama and Bill Nelson and today’s report is just further proof that their tax-and-spend agenda is not working,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  “Floridians simply cannot afford six more years of Bill Nelson’s failed economic leadership and it’s time to send a true reformer like Connie Mack to the Senate.”

BACKGROUND….

Nelson & Obama Promised The Stimulus Would ‘Create Or Save’ 206,000 Florida Jobs

BILL NELSON: “Specifically, in Florida, this bill is going to ‘create or save’ 206,000 jobs. Nationwide it is going to be somewhere between 3 million and 4 million jobs it is going to create or save.” (Sen. Bill Nelson, Congressional Record, 2/13/09, p. S2281)

• Nelson Predicted The Jobs Would Be Restored Within A Year And A Half. “He said the package is expected to restore 206,000 of the 255,000 jobs lost in Florida so far in the economic crisis, within one-and-a-half years.” (Deborah Buckhalter, “Sen. Nelson Speaks To Stimulus,” Jackson County Floridan, 2/19/09)

And That The Unemployment Rate Today Would Be Less Than 6%  

The post New Jobs Report Reiterates That The Policies Of President Obama & Senator Nelson Are Not Working appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Last month the top Senate Democrat leaders who are overseeing Bill Nelson’s campaign for Senate made clear that they were willing to allow the country to go over a “fiscal cliff” unless their demands for massive tax hikes were met.

But today, a new report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) made clear that as a result of the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spend policies, we are already headed in that direction.  The report shows that the economy would go into a recession and unemployment would increase if the Democrats’ proposed small business tax hike and massive defense cuts are put into effect.

“Today’s report is just the latest evidence that the failed economic policies trumpeted by Bill Nelson and President Obama are driving our country over a fiscal cliff,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox said today.  “From the reckless spending to the massive expansion of government in ObamaCare, Bill Nelson has marched in virtual lockstep with President Obama and their failed policies are hurting Floridians.

“Under the Obama-Nelson economy, we’ve had 43 straight months of unemployment above 8 percent, a skyrocketing debt that’s now reached almost $16 trillion, and four straight years of trillion dollar deficits.  This report is yet another big wake-up call that Florida simply can’t afford four more years of Nelson and Obama’s failed economic policies,” Wilcox concluded.

BACKGROUND….

CBO Projects ‘Significant Recession,’ ‘Jobless Rate Rising’

NATIONAL JOURNAL: “CBO: Jumping Off Fiscal Cliff Would Cause Recession” (“CBO: Jumping Off Fiscal Cliff Would Cause Recession,” National Journal, 8/22/12)

NEW YORK TIMES: “…if Congress takes no action to stave off tax increases due and automatic budget cuts scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, the economy could fall into a recession, with total output shrinking and the jobless rate rising to about 9 percent in the second half of 2013… Fears about tax increases and spending cuts — the ‘fiscal tightening’ — are depressing economic growth…” (“Report Sees Risk Of Recession If Budget Stalemate Persists,” The New York Times, 8/22/12)

WASHINGTON POST: “The nation would be plunged into a significant recession during the first half of next year if Congress fails to avert nearly $500 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts set to hit in January…” (“Significant Recession Imminent If Congress Doesn’t Act On Fiscal Cliff: CBO Report,” The Washington Post, 8/22/12)

REUTERS: “…even worse economic damage than previously thought if Washington fails to come up with a solution, Congress’ budget referee said on Wednesday.” (“U.S. CBO Sees Deeper ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Recession Next Year,” Reuters, 8/22/12)

AP: “… fresh, dire projections by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.” (“Analysts: Recession Likely Without Budget Accord,” AP, 8/22/12)

CBO: “…a recession, with real GDP declining by 0.5 percent between the fourth quarter of 2012 and the fourth quarter of 2013 and the unemployment rate rising to about 9 percent in the second half of calendar year 2013.” (“An Update To The Budget And Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2012 To 2022, Congressional Budget Office, 8/22/12)

Under Senate Democrats’ We Are Now Facing A Fourth Straight Year Of Trillion Dollar Deficits

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Is Predicting The Fourth Straight Deficit To Exceed $1 Trillion At $1.1 Trillion. “Congress’ nonpartisan budget analysts are projecting a $1.1 trillion federal deficit for 2012, the fourth straight year the government’s shortfall will exceed $1 trillion.” (“Analysts Project $1.1T Federal Deficit This Year,” The Associated Press, 8/22/12)

• CBO: “The Federal Budget Deficit For Fiscal Year 2012 … Will Total $1.1 Trillion … Marking The Fourth Year In A Row With A Deficit Of More Than $1 Trillion.”(“An Update To The Budget And Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2012 To 2022,” Congressional Budget Office, 8/22/12)

CBO: “The Amount Of Federal Debt Held By The Public Has Skyrocketed In The Past Few Years, Rising From 40 Percent Of GDP At The End Of 2008 To An Estimated 73 Percent By The End Of This Year.” (“An Update To The Budget And Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2012 To 2022,”Congressional Budget Office, 8/22/12)

• According To The CBO, Federal Debt Held By The Public Will Reach The Highest Levels Since The 1950s. ”Federal debt held by the public will reach 73 percent of GDP by the end of this fiscal year-the highest level since 1950 and about twice the 36 percent of GDP that it measured at the end of 2007, before the financial crisis and recent recession.” (“An Update To The Budget And Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2012 To 2022,”Congressional Budget Office, 8/22/12)

Senate Democrats’ Plan —  ‘Risk Racing Over The Fiscal Cliff’

“…Democratic Senator Patty Murray said her party is willing to risk racing over the fiscal cliff and into financial chaos in 2013.” (“US Lawmakers Head Home, Severe Challenges Loom,” AFP, 8/4/12)

“Democrats say they are prepared to go over the so-called fiscal cliff at the end of the year …” (“Democrats Risk Fiscal Cliff By Targeting Top Earners’ Break,” Bloomberg News, 7/10/12)

·       “Democrats have made clear that they are ready to allow tax rates to rise and automatic cuts to kick in for both defense and domestic programs… Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who outlined the Democratic strategy in a speech this month, put the GOP on notice that her party would rather plunge off the fiscal cliff than extend tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. White House aides pointedly backed Murray’s threat on Tuesday.” (“Democrats Waxing Tough On Fiscal Cliff,” National Journal, 7/25/12)

·       SEN. PATTY MURRAY (D-WA): “So if we can’t get a good deal… then I will absolutely continue this debate into 2013… our country is going to have to face the consequences…” (Sen. Murray, Remarks At The Brookings Institute, 7/16/12)

·       SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “There are more people today than before that say let this all just expire out.” (“Geithner Meets Murray Amid Fears Lawmakers Might Not Stop Fiscal Cliff,”The Hill, 8/2/12)

·       SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): Q: “Do you agree with Senator Murray that if you do not get a balanced deal, you’ll fight this into 2013?” SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “…Patty Murray knows what she’s talking about.” (Sen. Reid, Press Briefing, 7/17/12)

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 As he continues his 15th campaign for elected office – which includes running with Jimmy Carter and President Barack Obama – yesterday liberal Democrat Bill Nelson changed his tune from harshly criticizing ObamaCare’s $700 billion in cuts to Medicare to praising these cuts that will reduce benefits and hurt seniors in the Sunshine State.

It was just three years ago Nelson was sounding the alarm bells in Washington warning his colleagues that ObamaCare’s $700 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicare Advantage were “unconscionable” and a “non-starter.”

 “UNCONSIONABLE”      

“NON-STARTER”

Yet now, Nelson inaccurately claims that these cuts will keep Medicare alive.  Floridians deserve to know how Mr. Nelson squares his statements during the healthcare debate with his rhetoric on the campaign trail.

As the Tampa Bay Times reports:

Campaigning in Pinellas County on Monday, Nelson made no apologies for that vote while acknowledging he has taken plenty of criticism for it. … Nelson noted that $700 billion did not come from beneficiaries but from reductions in how much Medicare reimburses hospitals and from private Medicare Advantage plans that threatened to “bankrupt Medicare.” (Adam Smith, In Pinellas, Bill Nelson doesn’t shy away from health care vote, Tampa Bay Times, 8/21/12)

“Only a career politician like Bill Nelson would call ObamaCare’s $700 billion in cuts to Medicare ‘unconscionable’ and then praise the cuts on the campaign trail,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Spokesman Jahan Wilcox. “It’s just another example of how Bill Nelson will do anything – including deceiving seniors about his vote to cut billions of dollars from Medicare – to save his political skin.”

BACKGROUND …

BILL NELSON WARNED HIS COLLEAGUES AGAINST THE CUTS TO MEDICARE

During A Finance Committee Markup, Nelson Called It “Unconscionable” To Ask Seniors To Give Up Their Existing Medicare Advantage Benefits. BILL NELSON: “But I don’t think that it’s the right thing to ask senior citizens to give up their existing Medicare Advantage benefits because there are hundreds of thousands of senior citizens who didn’t conceive of Medicare Advantage but who have come to rely on it. And I intend to offer an amendment that will shield them from benefit cuts. It’ll be called a grandfather, to grandfather them in. … And to suddenly whack it away from the, I think, is unconscionable. You can’t punish the seniors who signed up. And if changes must be made for the future solvency of Medicare, then I think those seniors ought to be grandfathered in.” (Senator Bill Nelson, Remarks At Senate Finance Committee Health Care Hearing, 9/22/09)

Nelson Said It Was “A Non-Starter” To Tell Senior Citizens They Have To Give Up Their Medicare Advantage. NELSON: “But I don’t think it’s a good thing to go in and to tell these senior citizens what you have now, you’ve got to give up. That is a non-starter. And it is particularly a non- starter to any senior citizen that is having difficulty meeting — making financial ends meet. So what I want to do is to say those senior citizens that have it, you’re not going to lose it.” (Senator Bill Nelson, Remarks At Senate Finance Committee Health Care Hearing, 9/24/09)

Yet Nelson Still Voted For ObamaCare

Nelson Voted To Pass The Health Care Reconciliation Bill. (H.R. 4872, CQ Vote #105: Passed 56-43: R 0-40; D 54-3; I 2-0, 3/25/10, Nelson Voted Yea)

Nelson Also Voted To Kill An Amendment That Would Have Prevented Cuts To Medicare Advantage. (H.R. 4872, CQ Vote #72: Motion agreed to 56-42: R 0-40; D 54-2; I 2-0, 3/24/10, Nelson Voted Yea)

• “House And Senate Leaders On Thursday Said A Provision Sparing About 800,000 Floridians From Cuts In Medicare Advantage Will Not Be A Part Of The Final Health Care Bill, A Blow To Sen. Bill Nelson.” (Alex Leary, “Nelson’s ‘Gator-Aid’ Going Bye-Bye,” St. Petersburg Times’ Buzz Blog, 3/18/10)

The post Bill Nelson Goes From Criticizing ObamaCare’s $700 Billion In Cuts To Medicare To Praising Them appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Executive Director Rob Jesmer today made the following statement regarding the latest desperate attack ad by Florida’s embattled senior Senator Bill Nelson:

“It is disappointing that 40-year politician Bill Nelson would use an event that took place in his opponent’s personal life 20 years ago to distract from his own abysmal record.  Such an attack is particularly surprising, considering that Nelson’s own son was recently arrested for both disorderly intoxication and assaulting a police officer.  Senator Nelson, perhaps more than most people, should recognize that his attempt to leverage a person’s youthful mistakes for his own political advantage is shameful.

“Floridians deserve better than the type of gutter-style politics that Senator Nelson is engaging in.  Senator Nelson should explain to Floridians why under his watch we’ve now had 42 straight months of unemployment above 8 percent, a federal debt that’s now approaching $16 trillion and massive cuts to Medicare that he voted for even after admitting they would hurt Florida seniors.

“The fact is that Senator Nelson won’t run on his liberal, big government record because he can’t defend it, but this is a debate that Floridians deserve to have over the next three months.  And not the type of slimy and hypocritical attacks that we are seeing from an increasingly desperate politician who first came to Washington during Jimmy Carter’s Administration.”

BACKGROUND….

• Bill Nelson Jr. Arrested For Disorderly Intoxication, Resisting Arrest.One moment, Charles William Nelson stood on his own two feet. An instant later, he hugged the sidewalk with a nose full of pepper spray.  The 30-year-old son of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was arrested and charged with disorderly intoxication early Wednesday after Orlando police said he shoved an officer. (Orlando Sentinel, Senator’s son arrested after Orlando fracas, 11/9/2006)

The post NRSC: Floridians Deserve Better Than Bill Nelson’s Slimy & Hypocritical Attack Ads appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Just as he’s done over 140 times in his roughly 40 year career in Washington, Florida’s liberal senior Senator Bill Nelson stood with President Obama today and voted for a massive tax hike on Florida small businesses, families, farmers and ranchers.  Nelson even voted to reinstate the massive death tax, despite previously claiming to oppose it.

“Liberal Bill Nelson has never met a tax hike that he didn’t like and once again, standing behind President Obama was more important for Senator Nelson than standing up for Florida farmers and small business owners,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh said today.  “Under Nelson and Obama’s watch we’ve seen 41 straight months of unemployment above 8 percent, an almost $16 trillion debt and over 1,100 days without a budget.  If Floridians want to reverse course and restore common-sense in Washington, they can start by retiring Bill Nelson in November.”

Remarkably, Nelson’s vote came just hours after President Obama’s own Treasury Secretary testified before a House Committee and admitted that the “economy is not growing fast enough and unemployment is very high.”  

It also comes just days after Nelson claimed to oppose the President’s tax plan saying that he preferred to see the tax hike threshold set at $1 million.  This was also echoed by Nelson’s office last year when they said because of the current economic uncertainty Nelson would not support raising taxes for those making over $200,000 a year.  And just yesterday, the Florida Farm Bureau sent a letter to Senators saying point blank that the Democrats’ tax bill “will have a devastating impact on Florida farms and ranches.”

BACKGROUND.…

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Admitted Just Today That “The Economy is Not Growing Fast Enough.” GEITHNER: “But I’ll tell you my general view on this. The economy is not growing fast enough. Unemployment is very high. Huge amount of damage left in the housing market.” (House Financial Services Committee, U.S. House Of Representatives, Hearing, 7/25/12)

On October 4, 2011, Nelson’s Spokesman Said Nelson Could Not Support Tax Increases On People Making More Than $200,000 A Year. “Senate Democrats don’t have enough votes to pass President Obama’s jobs bill, and Florida Sen. Bill Nelson is among those wavering on the measure. ‘The president’s jobs plan has some things Senator Nelson favors, like extending and expanding the payroll tax cut. But it also has some things he’s even voted against before, like increasing income tax rates on people who make more than $200,000 a year,’ Nelson spokesman Dan McLaughlin said Monday. (Kenric Ward, “Bill Nelson Waiting For Final Jobs Package; GOP Foes Blast Him Now,” Sunshine State News, 10/4/11)

July 9, 2012, Bill Nelson Announced He Supported Extending The Tax Cuts For Everybody Making Less Than $1 Million A Year – Seemingly Opposing The President’s Tax Plan. “President Obama right now is outlining his proposal to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for families making less than $250,000. That would mean families and individuals who make more would see their rate increase. … But he’ll run into immediate opposition from Republicans and some Democrats, including Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, who is seeking re-election. ‘Sen. Nelson supports permanently extending the Bush-era tax cuts that are due to expire at the end of this year for everybody making less than $1 million a year,’ spokesman Dan McLaughlin said.” (Alex Leary, “Bill Nelson Differs With Obama On Bush-Era Tax Cuts,” Tampa Bay Times, 7/9/12)

• “Democratic Florida Sen. Bill Nelson’s ‘Favored’ Position Is To Permanently Extend The Bush-Era Tax Cuts For Those Making Less Than $1 Million, According To His Office.” (Seung Min Kim, Manu Raju and Scott Wong, “Some Dems Buck Obama On Taxes,” Politico, 7/10/12) 

July 13, 2012, Majority Leader Reid Announced A Tax Plan That Only Extended The Tax Cuts For Those Earning Less Than $200,000. “Senate Democrats will push a one-year tax cut proposal for individual Americans earning $200,000 or less annually, setting the stage for a showdown in coming weeks with Republicans over extending the Bush tax cuts, according to a new plan circulating on Capitol Hill.” (John Bresnahan, “Senate Dems Push One-Year Tax Cut,” Politico, 7/13/12)

• “With Only 53 Democrats – And Reid Calling For A Straight Majority Vote For Any Tax Proposal – Democratic Leaders Cannot Afford To Lose Any Support.” (John Bresnahan, “Senate Dems Push One-Year Tax Cut,” Politico, 7/13/12)

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND….

Florida Farmers & Small Business Owners Spoke Out Against Bill Nelson’s Tax Hike

FLORIDA FARMERS TODAY: “This will have a devastating impact on Florida farms and ranches … the Estate Tax would often result in farms being closed, land being sold and businesses being lost.” (Letter, Florida Farm Bureau Federation, 7/24/12)

• A PROMISE BROKEN — SEN. BILL NELSON IN 2000: “…with regard to the inheritance tax, I have always been in favor of eliminating this tax. I voted for a significant reduction in 1981 and for a modification in 1986. To me the inheritance tax represents a double tax. People have paid taxes as they have accumulated their assets during their lives. And I think we ought to pass that on to their families and to their loved ones without most of it being eaten up by the government.” (“Differences Wide As Candidates Take Stands; Bill Nelson,” The Ledger [Lakeland, FL], 11/3/00) 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: “Increasing taxes now will undermine economic recovery, choke off job creation, and take money out of the hands of the individuals and businesses that create jobs, spur investment, boost consumption, and promote economic growth.” (“Key Vote Alert On S. 3412, The “‘’Middle Class Tax Cut Act,’” The Chamber Of Commerce, 7/24/12) 

• “The Chamber urges you to oppose S. 3412, which would impose a massive tax hike on American businesses.” (“Key Vote Alert On S. 3412, The “‘’Middle Class Tax Cut Act,’” The Chamber Of Commerce, 7/24/12) 

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS: “This legislation would raise tax rates on small businesses at a particularly fragile time for the economy, stifling growth and investment when we can least afford it.” (National Federation Of Independent Business, Letter To Senators, 7/24/12)

• “This tax hike disproportionately impacts small businesses… will shrink the economy by 1.3 percent and result in the loss of 710,000 jobs.” (National Federation Of Independent Business, Letter To Senators, 7/24/12)

• “…the maximum estate tax rate will revert to 55 percent while the exemption level will drop to $ 1 million. This will increase the number of estates hit with the tax from 3,600 to 46,700, including 21,700 small businesses.” (National Federation Of Independent Business, Letter To Senators, 7/24/12)

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS: “…S. 3412 would result in higher taxes for the vast majority of manufacturers in the United States, threatening their ability to create jobs. …the possibility of these tax increases has forced many manufacturers to put investment and hiring plans on hold.” (National Association Of Manufacturers, Key Manufacturing Vote Letter, 7/14/12)

• “…the bill’s plan to restore estate tax rates and exemptions to pre-2001 levels would hit thousands of family-owned SMMs across our nation.” (National Association Of Manufacturers, Key Manufacturing Vote Letter, 7/14/12)

• “As our economy struggles to regain its footing, now is not the time to increase taxes on job creators and investors.” (National Association Of Manufacturers, Key Manufacturing Vote Letter, 7/14/12)

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WHOLESALER-DISTRIBUTORS: “This legislation would in fact do very great harm to the middle class it purports to help.” (National Association Of Wholesaler-Distributors, Open Letter To Senators, 7/24/12)

• “Despite the unemployment crisis, the Senate is set to vote on legislation which will indisputably make matters worse.” (National Association Of Wholesaler-Distributors, Open Letter To Senators, 7/24/12)

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Two years after liberal Democrat Bill Nelson voted for ObamaCare, which he promised would reduce healthcare costs for millions of people, today a new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reveals that the price of healthcare continues to increase.

Since the healthcare bill has been signed into law, costs have risen by 9 percent and the average premium has risen by $1,300.  They could rise as much as $2,500 according to today’s CBO report.  

As the CBO reports:

The additional enrollees [i.e., those previously projected to enroll in Medicaid, but who will now receive Exchange subsidies in light of the Court’s ruling] are likely to spend more on health care, on average, than those previously expected to purchase insurance through the exchanges because people with lower income generally have somewhat poorer health.  As a result, CBO and JCT now estimate that the premiums for health insurance offered through the exchanges, along with premiums in the individual market, will be 2 percent higher than those estimated in March 2012.

Notably, the total cost of the healthcare bill has risen from $940 billion to nearly $1.75 trillion. 

“Liberal U.S. Senator Bill Nelson promised ObamaCare would lower the cost of healthcare, but today Floridians are paying more money than ever,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  “Between the job-killing taxes and the raiding of Medicare funds, it’s clear Bill Nelson misled Floridians about the true effects of his government-run healthcare plan.”

BACKGROUND …

Bill  Nelson Promised ObamaCare Would Lower Healthcare Costs

Nelson Said The Health Care Law Would “Make Health Coverage More Affordable” For Everybody. Nelson: “In voting to move a health-care bill forward, my main goal was to help pass legislation that’ll make health coverage more affordable and available for everybody.” (Sen. Bill Nelson, “Sen. Bill Nelson’s Statement On Health-Care Vote,” Press Release, 12/21/09)

Meanwhile Healthcare Costs Across The Country Continue To Rise

BLOOMBERG:  “The average cost of a family policy climbed 9 percent in 2011 to $15,073, according to a poll of 2,088 private companies and state and local government agencies by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in Menlo Park, California, and the Chicago- based American Hospital Association’s Health Research and Educational Trust.” (Jeffrey Young, “Health-Benefit Costs Rise Most In Six Years,” Bloomberg, 9/27/11)

WALL STREET JOURNAL:  “[In 2011], the health-insurance premiums employers pay rose sharply this year, with the average annual cost of family coverage passing the $15,000 mark for the first time, according to a major survey.” (“Employer Health Premiums Rise Sharply,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/27/11) 

WALL STREET JOURNAL: “The average annual family premium for 2011 was $15,073, up from $13,770 last year.” (“Employer Health Premiums Rise Sharply,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/27/11)

The post Despite Bill Nelson’s Promise, The Cost Of Healthcare Continues To Rise In Florida appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Two years ago, liberal U.S. Senator Bill Nelson made President Barack Obama’s $1.76 trillion healthcare proposal the law of the land and now a new poll reveals that a majority of Floridians oppose this job-killing law.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports that ObamaCare will cut $500 billion from Medicare, raise taxes by over $500 billion and force every American to purchase health insurance.

A new poll reveals that 52 percent of Floridians oppose the healthcare overhaul and most voters believe the law will make the healthcare system worse.

As the Tampa Bay Times reports:

“Only 43 percent of voters statewide support the Affordable Care Act and 52 percent oppose it, with 5 percent undecided. … 50 percent want to see Republicans follow through on their vow to repeal the law, with 43 percent saying it should remain.  In perhaps the most worrisome sign for Obama and Democrats, only 39 percent of voters 65 years or older support the law. Seniors make up about 30 percent of the overall state’s electorate.”  (Alex Leary, Poll: Most Floridians disapprove of federal healthcare law, half want it repealed, Tampa Bay Times, 7/12/12)   

Notably, the Wall Street Journal has written that ObamaCare is the largest tax increase in history on the middle class.  

“Given that liberal Democrat Bill Nelson’s healthcare law raids $550 billion from Medicare and has been deemed the largest tax increase ever on the middle class, it’s hardly surprising a majority of Floridians oppose this law,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox. 

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Over three years ago, liberal Democrat Bill Nelson was a strong supporter of a massive “stimulus” spending bill – paid for by borrowing billions of dollars from China – that he flatly predicted would “create or save” 206,000 jobs in Florida.  At the same time, Nelson supported the massive health care law which the Supreme Court confirmed last week represents a massive tax hike on Florida families and small businesses.

Yet, since President Obama has taken office and the Democrats have run Washington, our country has actually lost over 400,000 jobs, and today marks the 41^st straight month that the national unemployment rate has remained above 8 percent.

In fact, the June unemployment report shows the worst quarter of job creation in two years.

As CNBC reports:

CNBC’s John Harwood: “Not Good News For The American Economy”

“Between last week’s Supreme Court decision and today’s jobs report, it’s a sobering reminder that at a time when Bill Nelson and the Democrats should have been focused on jobs, they focused instead on a massive middle class tax hike and reckless government spending programs,” National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Jahan Wilcox said today.  “While Nelson claims that he can feel the recovery, nearly 800,000 Floridians remain unemployed.”  

FLASHBACK…. 

Bill Nelson Said He Could Feel The Recovery

BACKGROUND…. 

Nelson-Obama Economic Record….

• Since President Obama Took Office, The Nation Has Lost 473,000 Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Has Increased From 7.8 Percent To 8.2 Percent. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 7/6/12)

• In June, The Hispanic Unemployment Rate Remained At 11.0 Percent. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 7/6/12)

• The African American Unemployment Rate Increased From 13.6 Percent To 14.4 Percent. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 7/6/12)

• The Unemployment Rate Has Remained Above Eight Percent For A Record 41 Straight Months. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 7/6/12)

• The Real Unemployment Rate, Including Those That Are Working Part-Time Due To Economic Reasons, Increased To 14.9 Percent. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 7/6/12) 

VERSUS….

Bill Nelson’s Rhetoric….

In April 2012, Nelson Said The Economy And The Job Market Have Begun To Recover. “It took Democrats and Republicans working together to keep it from a full-blown meltdown, Nelson said. Since then, the economy and job market have begun to recover. For 25 straight months now, the private sector has experienced job growth, Nelson said.” (Lauren Delgado, “Senator Nelson Visits Jackson County,” Jackson County Floridan [Marianna, FL], 4/13/12)

In January 2012, Nelson Said The Economy Was “Slowly Coming Back, Albeit It’s Very Gradual.” NELSON: “And what we’ve seen now is a slow rise in that last – since September 2008… And you’ve seen for the last 23 months private sector job growth. So it is slowly coming back, albeit it’s very gradual.” (Sen. Bill Nelson, Remarks At Wakulla County Board Chambers, Crawfordville, FL, 1/10/12)

In October 2011, Nelson Predicted President Obama “Will Clearly Be Strong” In The 2012 Election Because The Economy Will Improve. “‘We’re talking a long time away. We’re over a year to go. I think the president will clearly be strong,’ Nelson said, adding that he thinks the economy will improve. He also said Obama will be able to point to successes in foreign affairs and domestic security that are now being overshadowed by the focus on the economy.” (Brendan Farrington, “Sen. Nelson Running Like He Doesn’t Have A Race,” The Associated Press, 10/30/11)

September 2011: Nelson: “Little By Little We Are Beginning To See The Employment Creep Up.” (Randal Yakey, “Nelson: Fight Looms Over BP Money,” The News Herald, 9/29/11)

In July 2011, Nelson Said “You Can See Little Bits Of The Economic Recovery.” NELSON: “Florida is tough compared to the rest of the country because we had some much housing, that when the bubble burst, our recovery is a lot slower than the rest of the country. But it’s coming, and you can feel it. And you can feel the little bit, and you can see little bits of the economic recovery.” (Fox News Channel’s, “Studio B,” 7/8/11)

In January 2011, Nelson Said “The Economy Is Improving, Albeit Slowly In a Place Like Florida.” “That boffo GOP November, Nelson said, was ‘a phenomenon that was applicable to a country that was sour, that the people didn’t think the country was going in the right direction and it was born in large part out of a sour economy. ‘The economy is improving, albeit slowly in a place like Florida. And (President) Obama’s faves are likely to go up.’” (George Bennett, “Nelson Downplays State’s Shift To GOP,” Palm Beach Post, 1/17/11)

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