Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam is hitting back at his GOP opponent Ron DeSantis in a new attack ad (see below) paid for by Putnam’s political committee, Florida Grown.
With polls reportedly showing DeSantis taking a double-digit lead over Putnam and President Donald Trump set to make a campaign appearance next week in Tampa on behalf of DeSantis, the Putnam ad attacks DeSantis for his past support of a proposed 23 percent national sales tax.
“In Washington, Congressman Ron DeSantis three times co-sponsored legislation to increase sales taxes by 23 percent, which would lead to skyrocketing costs for Florida families,” the Putnam campaign said in a news release announcing the new ad.
“What would a 23% sales tax do to Florida’s economy? If Congressman DeSantis had his way, everything would cost 23% more – groceries, gas, home purchases,” the narrator says in the 30 second ad. “Congressman DeSantis sponsored legislation to increase sales taxes by 23 percent, hurting families, destroying jobs, devastating tourism. Washington is full of bad ideas and phony politicians. Ron DeSantis and his huge tax increase fit right in.”
The idea of a 23 percent sales tax first surfaced in 2013 as the Fair Tax Act. DeSantis was a co-sponsor. The idea has surfaced in Congress year after year, but has never gone anywhere.
What the Florida ad doesn’t mention is that the Fair Tax Act would also have repealed all federal income taxes, employment taxes, as well as the estate and gift taxes. It also included a proposed a monthly rebate for those below the poverty line.
“Adam Putnam is committed to reducing taxes and fees on hardworking Florida families and will fight to keep money in the pockets of Floridians and out of the hands of DC politicians,” the Putnam campaign said in its release.
DeSantis’ campaign manager Brad Herold appeared to respond to the Putnam ad in a Twitter post late Tuesday.
I’ll give @AdamPutnam this. He’s finally given up on pretending to be a conservative. Things he’s attacked @RonDeSantisFL on.
1. Voting Against The Farm Bill
2. Taking On Entitlement Spending
3. Supporting the FairTaxNever go full moderate, Adam.
— Brad Herold (@bradherold) July 24, 2018
The ad is set to start airing statewide Wednesday and could set the tone for the remainder campaign as we head into the final month of the primary contest.
