Rubio's "Government Holds You Back" Remark is Shockingly Hypocritical

In his response to the State of the Union address, Marco Rubio said with breathtaking hypocrisy, “More government isn’t going to help you get ahead. It’s going to hold you back.” (Post-Crescent, February 13, 2013)  What makes this remark hypocritical is that Rubio knows better. He represents the State of Florida, which benefits mightily from government spending and other forms of government assistance.

Social Security Checks Are Spent in Florida

Florida is a mecca for retirees who flock there for the warm weather. Most of them receive Social Security and spend it in Florida. Some who continue to maintain homes in Wisconsin and other states spend the winter in Florida. The Social Security that is spent in Florida supports thousands of businesses and tens of thousands of jobs.

Florida Gets Lots of Money From Medicare

Florida’s status as a prime retirement location also means that the state receives a great deal of money from Medicare, which pays the hospital and doctor bills of the senior citizens who retire there. The Medicare funds that are spent in Florida are a large part of the income of the state’s medical institutions and support thousands of health-care jobs in all parts of the state.

Florida’s Sugar Industry Is Supported by Federal Subsidies

Florida is also the largest producer of sugar in the United States. The sugar industry receives extensive government help in the form of price supports, marketing controls and import restrictions, which maintain the price of sugar and limit the amount of sugar on the market. The price support program costs American consumers billions in increased food prices each year. (See http://fcir.org/2012/09/09/in-sugar-price-supports-sour-tastes-for-consumers/)  An effort was made in 2012 to end the price support program. Senator Rubio was among those who voted to keep the program going.

Florida Agriculture Benefits From the Interstate Highway System

Other Florida farmers ship their oranges and berries to us in Wisconsin and other northern states via the Interstate Highway system.  Without the federal highways, the farmers would not be able not ship their crops north, and in that case, they would not continue in business or hire the thousands of people who pick those crops.

Florida Benefits From Military Spending

Florida is also home to a large number of military bases including the naval air station at Pensacola, one of the navy’s largest installations. Anyone who has ever visited Pensacola knows that it is a navy town with thousands of businesses and jobs that are dependent on the money spent by the navy and its members.

Rubio Is A Liar

So, the federal government is a key part of the economy of the State of Florida, and many middle class jobs are supported by the money that the federal government spends there.  Of course, Mr. Rubio knows all that. He isn’t ignorant. He’s just a liar.