"We've see the images on television: government unions from around America staging protests in Wisconsin," chamber president Mark Wilson says in a radio ad that began airing March 3, 2011. "They're not fighting for ordinary citizens, but grappling for power and money. Unfortunately, Florida is next on the union bosses' hit list. They're busing protesters to Central Florida right now to harass your courageous representatives."
Politifact rating this claim a pants on fire lie. Florida unions are not busing in protesters. Progress Florida and Susan Smith are organizing the Awake the State rallies and I doubt they could buy pizza for the protesters. This may come as a shock to Mr. Wilson but progressive activism doesn't pay as well as being the president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
What I was struck most was by this portion of Wilson's statement.
"They're not fighting for ordinary citizens, but grappling for power and money."
That begs the question: what is Mr Wilson fighting for. Excuse me but when did the president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce become a working class hero. Remember these comments Wilson made to the St. Petersburg Times after the Chamber was successful in funding the 2010 Florida Republican victories.
"If we don't have a good three or four years … then we've blown it," Wilson said during a legislative briefing before 50 area business leaders in Tampa on Tuesday morning. "This is our time in the business community to do what we do best."
It doesn't sound like Mr. Wilson is fighting for Tom Joad. Wilson is fighting to cut (the already low) state corporate tax and make employees pay a bigger portion into unemployment insurance. Wilson wants to pass on a tax increase to working class people to pay for a tax cut in unemployment taxes to corporations. I ask again, whose interest is Mr. Wilson fighting for.
FCOC President Mark Wilson is correct re. SunRail. Having spent my over 28 years in public transportation, I can assure you that investments and state commitments to commercial & public transportation systems are essential for economic stability & growth. Build it & they will come. An Amtrak trip from Florida to Massachusetts will be proof of this statement. CSX is 24/7 moving it's freight rail lines off the Northeast Corridor commuter rail lines. You don't have repair rail systems every 10 yrs! I competed w/over 3,000 trucks on a RT from St. Petersburg-Boston! It is a win-win for Florida.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know how much you being paid to oppose gambling in state of Florida. We already have gambling that is not regulated by the Indians. So how much are you being paid to oppose this bill.
ReplyDeleteI am not being paid to oppose gambling. The issue of gambling is not even mentioned in this post. I do support unions. And I am not paid for that position.
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