The House GOP's 'message points'

As the House's $65-billion budget proposal was being sent to lawmakers Sunday night, the House Majority Office's spin machine swung into action by distributing a series of "message points" to Republican members. (The memo was not made public, but a GOP member passed it along).

"We have already seen the minority party attack these budget decisions, but they have yet to tell Floridians how they would budget differently without raising taxes or further jeopardizing our economy," said the message memo from Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, the majority leader. "We can expect more of the same criticisms without solutions in the weeks ahead." The e-mail also urged Republican lawmakers to emphasize the need for state government to "live within its means."

A day later, on Monday, House Republican leaders embraced an idea Democrats have championed for weeks: to allow the use of a Budget Stabilization Fund and the Lawton Chiles Endowment to minimize program cuts over the next year. And the House Democratic leader, Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, is growing weary of the Republican rhetoric on budget cuts. "'Living within your means' is not an economic principle," Gelber said. Among the Democrats' budget solutions: a $1-a-pack hike in cigarette taxes.

Comments

I'm also getting tired of their empty concern for the citizens of Florida when everyone knows that the GOP is only out to help the rich get richer.

A rising tide floats all boats. It just floats some a lot higher than others. (To paraphrase Orwell.)

"'Living within your means' is not an economic principle," Gelber said.

No... but it is the latest mindf*ck designed divert attention away from the truth that none of these monkey-sticks give a r*ts a*s about fiscal responsibility, insurance rates, or the people of Florida.

VOTE THEM ALL OUT!

When will the Democrats understand that they cannot talk about raising taxes. They need to sit back and watch the Republicans take the heat for this one.

"the GOP is only out to help the rich get richer."

Well i do not think it is "the poor" that provide jobs. The GOP helping out "the rich", only works to help "the poor" out of poverty...that is if "the poor" are willing to work those jobs.

$1-a-pack hike in cigarette taxes

Eh, sounds good. Paying for cigarettes is a tax on stupidity anyway. Might as well make some more $$ on the stupid. Ditto for the lottery.

"'Living within your means' is not an economic principle," Gelber said.

Really? Since when Mr. Gelber? Most of us have had to make that our guiding principle since we don't have the advantage of being able to milk it out of everyone else. How about a dose of reality for you and everyone else in Tallahassee? Is the air a little too thin there for you?

Stop corporate welfare (CSX), cut waste, eliminate pork projects, cancel all political pet projects, and vote every incumbent out of office at our first respective given opportunity.

Problem Solved!

Dan Gelbers is an idiot.

Everyone needs to live within their means including government.

Vote out any democrats that want to tax & spend like drunks.

Based on the size of Gelber, he’s been living within the means of several people!

I think Gelber's "Living within your means" refers to the GOPs habit of passing out tax cuts for the rich like DRUNKEN SAILORS.

In order to maintain a decent standard of living, you've got to spend your tax money on your citizens, not give it away on politcal paybacks.

Vote out any Republicons that want to spend our money in public restrooms, like closet gay drunks.

[Don Mott]

There were some good points made but very few. I particularly liked how he called Florida's education system "world class". What a joke! The majority of his hogwash is aimed at securing funding for those who don't need it while cutting funding from those who do. I also liked how he minimized the funding cuts by percentages, such as only 2% or 3%. What he failed to mention is that some if not all of these programs were already grossly underfunded and on the brink of collapse. Typical Republican BS!

3:38- Nice try at a personal attack, but you attacked the wrong guy. Gelber looks like he has been living within his means.

I think 3:38pm, was referring to the other democrat idiot, Steve Geller.

Almost all the democrats support high property taxes & drunken spending by local governments

Both Republicans and Democrats seem like a bunch of idiots lately.

How about electing some Independents.

Good to see the House GOP finally admit they have been raising property taxes all these years.

How is this for a talking point:

If we continue to side with the Chamber Fat Cats against the average folks then we are going to lose a lot of seats because voters like the one writing this in Pinellas Country are dropping their Republican registration in disgust.

GOP Values - spend $$$ on ultrasounds to prevent abortions and cut funding to the medically needy, the handicapped, the elderly, and, of course education.

The Republican Party of Florida is ANTI-MIDDLE CLASS!!!