Rick Scott “Won’t Back Down” From GOP Agenda To Raise Taxes, End Social Security & Medicare As Democrats “Tag Republican Senate Candidates With Scott’s Plan”

Associated Press: “Republican Senate candidates privately worry that Scott’s policy agenda is giving Democrats a powerful talking point to use against them this fall”

Axios: “Democrats seized on the comment to argue Republicans would raise Americans’ taxes if they control Washington”

New reporting from Axios and the Associated Press is highlighting how Senate Republicans’ campaign Chair Sen. Rick Scott “is refusing to abandon” the GOP plan that would raise taxes and end Social Security and Medicare – leaving the GOP worried “that Scott’s policy agenda is giving Democrats a powerful talking point” as Democrats continue to “tag Republican Senate candidates with Scott’s plan.”

The new reports come as the DSCC today launched a new advertisement –  “It’s In The Plan”  – featuring footage from a recent Fox News interview with NRSC Chair Scott where he is called out for Senate Republicans’ agenda that would raise taxes on “over half of Americans” and put “an end to Social Security, Medicare.”

See for yourself:

Axios: Democrats target new GOP election foils
By Alexi McCammond, Andrew Solender
March 30, 2022

• In digital ads and press releases, Democrats are using Republican Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Rick Scott of Florida and Chuck Grassley of Iowa as foils to contrast their party’s vision for health care and the economy.

• Why it matters: Democrats view recent comments by the three senators as political gifts.

• The backstory: During a recent interview with Breitbart News Radio, Johnson urged his party to start thinking about what policy items it would prioritize if it takes back the White House, House and Senate in 2024.

• He cited Republicans’ failure to replace the Affordable Care Act — when they had control of Washington — as an example of why it’s so important for the GOP to develop a clear legislative plan and agenda now.

• Democrats jumped on his comments… in ads and releases.

• Grassley suggested that if Democrats want to pass something to lower prescription drug costs, they need to do it “now” — before Republicans take control of Congress.

• And Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), released his own plan for the GOP 2022 agenda should be.

• Democrats seized on the comment to argue Republicans would raise Americans’ taxes if they control Washington.

• Between the lines: Democrats aren’t just targeting Johnson, Scott and Grassley in their home states, where it could boost challengers or other Democratic candidates on the ballot.

• They’re attempting to tag Republican Senate candidates with Scott’s plan even in places like Ohio, where he’s not on the ballot.

• “The work that is being done on the ground in Senate battleground states will ensure the GOP’s toxic agenda is front and center for voters,” Nora Keefe, spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, told Axios.

Associated Press: GOP’s Senate campaign chief won’t back down from party fight
By Steve Peoples & Brendan Farrington
March 30, 2022

• Scott, who is also the Senate GOP’s midterm chief, insists he has only begun to fight.

• Scott is refusing to abandon an 11-point governing plan he released… In the weeks since, Scott has continued to promote his plan, which would raise taxes on millions of Americans who don’t earn enough to pay federal income taxes, in dozens of speeches and media appearances.

• Republican Senate candidates privately worry that Scott’s policy agenda is giving Democrats a powerful talking point to use against them this fall…. although Scott has resisted pressure to back off.

• Scott calls for a minimum federal tax on tens of millions of Americans who don’t make enough money to pay federal income taxes. Another provision would sunset all federal legislation five years after passage, which critics contend would jeopardize Social Security and Medicare.

• “Rick Scott literally put it in writing,” DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison told The Associated Press. “Every Republican lawmaker must answer for it, and you can bet we’re going to remind the American people of it every chance we get.”

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