Florida Today endorses Governor Crist for US Senate. (Space Coast)

[seafan]

Our views: Crist can bring needed independent, moderate voice to Senate



October 1, 2010

Florida voters have a rare chance to start changing the bitter partisan climate in Congress this year, thanks to strange political times in the Sunshine State.
Gov. Charlie Crist’s decision to leave the Republican Party and run as an independent for the U.S. Senate has opened that door.

His record as a fiscal conservative, but one with progressive views on a job-creating energy policy and a moderate approach on social issues, reflects two things:

First, the nature of the policies that won him the governor’s mansion in 2006 with the bipartisan support of Florida voters.

Second, the kind of non-dogmatic voices needed in Congress to counter the ideological rigidity blocking progress on important issues such as reducing the nation’s deficit and debt.

For those reasons, Crist earns our recommendation.

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His service as governor during the worst recession since the Great Depression has been commendable.

Declining state revenues made painful cutbacks in the state budget unavoidable, but Crist steered Florida clear of extreme tax-cutting measures backed by some GOP lawmakers that would have decimated core government functions such as public safety, the courts and education.

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In all, Crist’s independence better positions him to help change the dysfunctional status quo on Capitol Hill for the better.

He should be Florida’s next senator.