This week, Marco took our debt crisis head on. He voted against a long-term government spending bill that was full of Washington budget gimmicks and did almost nothing to address our $14 trillion-and-growing national debt. The time to begin taking our debt seriously is long past due. America’s next 100 years can be as great as the last 100, but we must tackle this debt to ensure that promise comes true.

Confronting Our Debt Crisis

On Wednesday, Marco released a video response to President Obama’s debt speech. Be sure to watch the video here. See below for an excerpt from that statement:

“Americans are as ready as ever to create jobs, start businesses and invent new industries. But we are on the verge of losing our economic and global credibility because, for far too long, Washington politicians in both parties, have been borrowing and spending money we don’t have…. In a few weeks, we will reach our $14.2 trillion legal limit for borrowing money, and the President is going to call on Congress to raise this so-called debt limit. This is the perfect opportunity to talk about our debt problem and to start solving it.”

Marco also spoke to Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” on Thursday morning about the President’s speech, noting that “the President’s plan is not a debt reduction plan…. the speech was not a real serious public policy effort. I actually think that it sets us back in terms of solving the problems that we’re facing here in this country.” Watch the video of the interview here.

Cutting government spending has been a priority for Marco from Day 1. Last week, we told you about Marco’s “Decrease Spending Now Act,” which would rescind $45 billion in unspent taxpayer dollars that are sitting idly in federal coffers. This week, several notable Senators have signed on to co-sponsor this fiscally-responsible legislation, including Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), David Vitter (R-La.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Mike Lee (R-Utah). Two taxpayer advocacy groups have also written letters in support of the “Decrease Spending Now” Act. Check out the letter from FreedomWorks here, and this letter from the National Taxpayers Union.

Marco Votes Against Typical Washington Budget Deal

On Thursday evening, Marco voted against the spending bill to fund government for the rest of the 2011 fiscal year budget, a flawed product full of gimmicks and produced in a culture of fiscal brinksmanship that is failing the American people. The budget simply fails to take on our debt crisis. Watch Marco’s video response to this vote here.

Focus on Florida

This week marked the 30th anniversary of the first space shuttle mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center. During the anniversary celebration, representatives from NASA announced that the orbiter Atlantis will be retired at the museum at Kennedy Space Center. While this is welcome news, Marco is concerned about the overall impact NASA’s retreat from manned space exploration will have on scientific progress, our economy and national security. Below is a quote from Marco regarding the announcement:

“On this anniversary, it is only fitting that the orbiter Atlantis is being retired at Kennedy Space Center, the location of every single shuttle launch. This announcement is a testament to all of the hard working men and women along the space coast, and the remarkable accomplishments they have achieved over the past thirty years.”

This month also marks the 50th anniversary of the battle of the Bay of Pigs, an event that changed the course of history for all Cubans and many Floridians. Marco honored the veterans on Wednesday, alongside his fellow Floridians Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, and Sen. Bill Nelson. The Floridians were joined by Sens. Robert Menendez and Joe Lieberman in honoring the veterans, who traveled to Washington, D.C. for this special occasion. Click here to see photos from that event.

Marco Gets A Permanent Office In The Hart Building

This week, much to everyone’s relief, Marco and his Washington, D.C.-based staff finally moved to a permanent office in the Hart Senate office building. Visitors can now find the Senator and his team (with a little more breathing room than in the basement of the Dirksen building) in SH-317. Click here to see a photo of our new front door. Make sure to stop by and say hello if your travels bring you to our nation’s capital!