TALLAHASSEE – The Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate Campaign today announced the endorsements of Congressmen Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart.  ”Charlie Crist understands that freedom is under attackand it must be protected with clarity and firmness by the United States. He will be an effective Senator for Florida. I strongly support him,” said Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart.

During his time in Congress, Lincoln Diaz-Balart has successfully tackled issues such as tax relief for hard working American families, significant education reform, transportation funding, protection for the Everglades, and bringing common sense and discipline to the federal budget. He continues to work on such important matters as keeping Americans safe at home and abroad, affordable healthcare, sound immigration policy, and the expansion of freedom and democracy to those who remain oppressed.

“With his commitment to a strong national defense, a world-class education system, and ensuring that all Floridians have access to health care, it is clear that Charlie Crist will be a strong advocate for Florida in Washington D.C.” said Congressman Mario-Diaz Balart. “He is exactly the leader that we need and I look forward to supporting and campaigning with him.”

Since his start in Congress, Mario Diaz-Balart has served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and has helped deliver millions of federal dollars for the I-75 widening project and Miami-Dade Transit.   He was recently appointed to serve as the Ranking Member of the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee of that Committee.   He also serves on the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee and the Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

His other committee assignments include the Budget Committee and the Science and Technology Committee.

A press release went out today from Citizens Against Government Waste and it mentioned several members of Congress from Florida.  Including Suzanne Kosmas of Orlando.  Below is the press release ——–

(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today released its preliminary analysis of the House version of the fiscal year 2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.  There are 272 projects costing taxpayers $156 million.  This represents a 10.1 increase in projects and a 15.6 increase in spending from fiscal year 2009.

As usual, appropriators loaded the bill with pork.  House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) requested seven projects worth $7,193,000, while Ranking Member Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) requested five projects totaling $2,750,000.  Here are some outrageous examples of wasteful spending that members of the House added to the bill:

• $500,000 by House appropriator C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) and Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and John Sarbanes (D-Md.) for the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail in Maryland.  According to a press release on Rep. Sarbanes’ website, “the trail commemorates some of the most important events of the War of 1812 including the battle at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem.”  Eliminating the deficit would be much more patriotic.

• $500,000 by House appropriator Bill Young (R-Fla.) and Reps. Ron Klein (D-Fla.), Suzanne Kosmas (D-Fla.), Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.), Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), and John Mica (R-Fla.) for the Florida National Scenic Trail.  The trail runs from Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola to Big Cypress National Preserve west of Miami.  The funds will be used to acquire approximately 267 miles of gaps in the trail, according to Rep. Wexler’s website.

• $150,000 by House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee member Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) for the restoration of Cotrill’s Opera House in Thomas.  The fat lady is singing and it is for the end of fiscal sanity.

• $150,000 by House appropriator Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) to help restore Tarrytown Music Hall.  In the past, Tarrytown has received $20,000 from the Junior League of Westchester-on-Hudson, as well as other contributions ranging from $1,000 to $40,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Rotary Club of Tarrytown, and several individuals, all for a new air conditioning system.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.