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Crist Answers the "Flip-Flopping" Question on Federal Spending

Tiffany Griffith

@ October 28, 2009 4:30 PM Permalink | Comments (2)

Governor Charlie Crist made a tour stop in Northeast Florida today. Crist has also been running an advertizement on WOKV, endorsing his U.S. Senate run. In it, the governor is stated as saying:

"Washington is out of control. Yet the president has the same tired answer for every problem: To spend more of your money."

But, Governor Crist is on record for being in favor of using the Federal Stimulus money in Florida - so how does he explain the ad?

"Florida deserves their fair share," says Crist. "We would have lost over 20,000 teachers if we didn't have those Florida tax dollars come back to Florida. It's important to do that. What's happening now though is that they're talking about a stimulus 2, and I just think it's wrong."

Crist says Florida is living within its means and says Washington should, too.

The governor also answered questions on how school spending relates to the distance children have to walk to school, and his thoughts on offshore oil drilling.

This is the governor's second stop in town since the disappearance and death of 7-year-old Somer Thompson. In that time, many outraged parents have called on schools to provide safer travel, to-and-from school for students.

But, because of Tallahassee funding cuts to education, districts like Duval have cut transportation and increased the walking distance to two-miles for students.

However, Governor Crist claims, "We haven't cut education [spending] in Florida." Crist says his office has managed to sustain education and that Florida ranks among the top ten states for funding schools.

Governor Crist is also not ready to show his hand yet on the offshore oil drilling issue.

During his run for the Governor's office, Crist opposed offshore oil drilling, but now, as he makes his run for the U.S. Senate, Crist isn't holding such a strong stance.

"I think we need to be open-minded about it," says Crist. "I think that energy is an incredibly important issue. Not only to Florida, but to America. I want to protect our beaches as much as anybody does, but at the same token I want to make sure we have energy independence, too. I look forward to the discussion ahead and I think it will be productive for all of us to tune in."

Crist wouldn't let on what his approach would be if he makes it to Washington.

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What others are saying

governor's visit
I am one Floridian and citizen of the United States who is getting real tired of the widespread notions that Florida has the lowest tax rates, puts more money into schools than most of the rest of the country, has more police and fire protection, YADA YADA YADA! I have heard all the easily contrived statistics from all of the politicians who keep telling us everything but the truth while calling it a "misspoke" or other politically correct phrase in the place of "lies" in the attempt to expand the powers of government, when the founding fathers of this once great land were trying to LIMIT the DIRECT CONTROL of the the GOVERNMENT over it's CITIZENS, and allow them the FREEDOM to dominate their own lives, and the officials ELECTED to govern! Seems to me that over the years, these tennants have been corrupted in little bites at a time to turn them into the primary reasons to form such a new NATION to start with! Many patriotic people in the past paid the highest price in BLOOD for freedom in this country, and the current crop of politicians may soon feel the same losses for their corruption if the tide does not soon turn back toward it's original course. The lies and evil deeds done in the guise of security are being exposed every day, as the old addage of the truth will always, eventually, be found out, no matter how you try to hide it!
Mr, Crist, I believe, was trying at the outset of his campaign to do the right things for the people of this State, but like nearly other elected official, has learned to legally lie with almost every word uttered from his mouth, and now, in office, tells us what we wish to hear in the attempt to keep the power and status gained in the job instead of keeping his empty promises that gave me and all the others who elected him HOPE for a better future.
LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL? I do not think so anymore, it is more like POWER for the POLITICIANS!
By Jim K @ 10/29/09 12:24:09 PMreport abuse
Crist: Liar, hypocrite, phony???
Yes he is all of these. He was Hugging Obama and praising the porkulus bill. This means Crist is a liar about his true positions. He cannot be trusted and is NOT a conservative. Fire Charlie Crist.
By ricardo maxwell @ 10/29/09 12:06:09 PMreport abuse