Outcome of Florida gubernatorial race will have big impact on nation

It’s a given that whoever wins the gubernatorial race in Florida will end up having a big impact on the rest of the nation. The Rick Scott (R) vs. Alex Sink (D) battle will be resolved once Floridians cast their votes on Tuesday, but the winner’s political platform will impact issues like healthcare, immigration and the 2012 General Election. Voters may want to consider exactly how a Democrat victory will impact not only the state but the country. [Article continues after photo.]

Election of Yesteryear: Illustration shows an elderly German American man with one hand pointing to his head and the other pointing to a coin bank labeled "Savings Bank" on a table. He winks to show he thinks his investments in the U.S. Bonds protruding from his vest and his savings are wise decisions. On the left is a poster showing a bust portrait of President William McKinley (R) labeled "Expansion" and captioned "Gold Standard and Sound Money" and on the right is a poster showing a bust portrait of William Jennings Bryan (D) labeled "Anti-Expansion" and captioned "Repudiation and 16 to 1." [Aug. 15, 1900 issue of Puck; image from Library of Congress. No known restrictions on publication.]

At the moment, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is battling the Patient Affordable Care and Protection Act popularly called ObamaCare in the courts. Gov. Charlie Crist has been busy on the campaign trail, so he hasn’t thrown a wrench into McCollum’s efforts although Crist’s position on the bill seems to rely on whatever group he’s speaking to. Incidentally, AG candidate Pam Bondi (R) has pledged to fight ObamaCare if she is elected.

At issue in the federal legislation are matters like the unconstitutional mandate and the lack of a severability clause. The lack of that clause, by the way, is one more indication the bill was rushed through with scant practical oversight. One big negative will be the costs states will bear as record numbers of people move onto government insurance plans.

The issue of immigration will become increasingly important. At the moment there is a haphazard, unpredictable process that largely benefits immigration lawyers, large corporate employers in sectors like construction, hotels and landscaping, and those in illegal activities such as human trafficking and drugs. The US taxpayer bears the cost of current immigration policy and the costs (and fraud) will continue to rise unless something is done to restore order to chaos.

Just around the corner is the General Election in 2012. The year seems distant at the moment, but once we ring in 2011, candidates will begin to be more visible and the long campaign will begin.

If a Democrat wins Florida’s gubernatorial race, that will give a very big edge to the Democrat Party in the battle for the Oval Office.

Toss in the issue of runaway federal spending coupled with the Democrat Congress’ apparent desire for a hefty tax increase (they’ve done nothing to stop it).

If Dems enable a tax increase in a lame duck session, it is likely Congress will not reduce spending. Every time there’s been a tax increase, that’s exactly what they’ve done.

Florida is the 4^th most populous state in the nation. If we elect a Democrat governor, it is likely we will have to live with ObamaCare, accept the status quo on immigration, acknowledge the bully pulpit power the governor would have in the 2012 presidential race and roll over for the tax increase Democrats refuse to stop.

Florida’s governor will have a big impact. Voters should bubble in those circles with eyes wide open.