ORLANDO, FL — Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) devoted his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) touting his sweeping 11-point plan to “Rescue America,” an agenda proposal for Republicans to enact after regaining control of Congress.
“If the Republicans return to Washington’s business as usual, if we have no bigger plan than to be a speed bump on the road to America’s collapse, we actually don’t deserve to govern,” Scott said during his speech to CPAC Saturday afternoon.
“This is not the time to be timid. This is the time to be bold. Our nation’s future can be bright, but we need a plan to take this country back. I warn you before you read it, though. This plan is not for the faint of heart. It will trigger a lot of the people,” Scott added. “In Washington, we need new majorities in the House and the Senate, and we need a new plan.”
Scott’s plan, dubbed “an 11 Point Plan to Rescue America: What Americans Must Do to Save This Country,” a proposal jam-packed with 128 specific policy ideas based on his business career, the eight years serving as Governor of the Sunshine State, and his current tenure as Senator. The document released earlier this week is a mix of Republicans’ longstanding positions, including election integrity, immigration, and reducing the federal government.
The blueprint combines a litany of problems facing American society today, from the rising crime wave sweeping the nation, the “porous” southern border that has led to an influx of illegal immigrants along with lethal drugs pouring into the country, inflation, “Big Brother” vaccine mandates and culture-war politics. It also includes a contentious proposal of having every American pay at least some form of income tax and having the southern border wall complete that will be renamed after former President Donald Trump.
“We will secure our border, we’ll build the damn wall, and when we do, we’ll name it after President Donald J. Trump,” Scott said Saturday, prompting the crowd to erupt in roaring applause.
Scott’s 11-point proposal has drawn scathing attacks from Democrats and rattled some Republicans since he released the 31-page document. The Florida Senator welcomed the heavy criticism he has faced over the past week, noting his new wide-ranging plan is “going to be ridiculed by the left, mocked by Washington insiders and strike fear in the heart of some Republicans.”
“Based on how Democrats are attacking me this week, I’d say we’ve hit the bullseye. The fight to rescue America from socialism is our fight,” Scott said, while also blasting those from within his party who grumble “with anonymous quotes” and fear that “the Democrats will use it against us in the election.”
“I hope they do because my response is, ‘Bring it on,'” Scott said. “We have no fear for standing up for what is right to rescue this country.”
The proposal is reported to have Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), at odds with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who declined to release a broader GOP agenda ahead of the 2022 midterms. With the Senate currently split 50-50, McConnell’s game plan for Republicans to succeed control by a net gain of just one seat is to frame the midterms as a referendum on the agenda of President Biden and congressional Democrats.
Ahead of Scott’s CPAC speech, Politico reported that Trump, who is considered the Kingmaker for Republicans in their plans of taking over Congress this year, is pushing Scott to challenge McConnell to become the Republican Senate leader once the party wins the midterm election.
Scott speaking to The Floridian after his 18-minute speech, rejected that his proposal, a production funded by his own Senate re-election committee and not the NRSC, is not a stepping stone to challenge McConnell.
“I have no plans to run against McConnell,” Scott said. “That is not my plan. My focus is to make sure we win a majority back in the Senate.
“When I talk to the president, what we talk about is how we’re going to win the Senate. He’s very focused on making sure we get the Senate back, and he’s been very helpful,” Scott added.
The 11-Point “Rescue America” plan was heavily promoted during the four-day CPAC convention held in Orlando, Florida. Scott’s re-election team booked a booth spot at the CPAC exhibition hall, where they distributed copies of the plan along with campaign swag that read, “America is worth fighting for. Read my plan at rescueamerica.com.” The campaign committee has also dropped seven figures in a massive ad blitz.
Conservative Political Action CommitteeCPACCPAC 2022DemocratsMidterms 2022OrlandoPoliticoPresident BidenPresident TrumpRescue AmericaSen. Rick ScottSenateSenate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
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