Charlie Crist Flip Flops…Yet Again

In An Interview Monday With MSNBC’s Ed Schultz, Republican-Turned-Independent-Turned-Democrat Charlie Crist Said He Would Raise Taxes As Governor. SCHULTZ: “What would you do with Florida’s finances, and what would you expect, would you expect more out of the wealthiest residents? CRIST: Well I think we all have to expect more out of each other. I don’t like to raise taxes. I don’t know that anybody really enjoys the idea of doing that. I did it as Governor, though. SCHULTZ: Would you do it again? CRIST: If necessary, I would.” (MSNBC’s “The Ed Show,” 11/18/13)

• Crist Noted That He’d Raised Taxes During His Term As Governor. CRIST: “I don’t like to raise taxes. I don’t know that anybody really enjoys the idea of doing that. I did it as Governor, though.” ( MSNBC’s “The Ed Show,” 11/18/13)

WHEN HE STILL CALLED HIMSELF A REPUBLICAN, CRIST INSISTED THAT HE HADN’T RAISED TAXES AS GOVERNOR, JUST “FEES”

In A Primary Debate During His 2010 Senate Race, Crist Vehemently Denied Having Raised Taxes In Florida’s 2009 Budget. WALLACE: “Let me ask you, Governor Crist, about your record, though. When you were running for governor four years ago, you made a flat, George H. W. Bush pledge: you will not raise taxes as long as you’re governor. Last year you signed a $66 billion state budget that had a $2.2 billion increase in taxes, new taxes and fees. Didn’t you break your promise to Florida voters? CRIST: No, I don’t think I did, and I’ll tell you why. The only part of it that was a tax — and it’s loosely defined as a tax — was on cigarettes. And I would argue that that’s a user fee. If you don’t use them, you don’t pay it.” (Fox News Sunday Florida Primary Debate, 3/28/10)

• Crist: “The Only Part Of It That Was A Tax — And It’s Loosely Defined As A Tax — Was On Cigarettes. And I Would Argue That That’s A User Fee. If You Don’t Use Them, You Don’t Pay It.” (Fox News Sunday Florida Primary Debate, 3/28/10)

When Asked About The Higher Fees He Had Approved On Drivers’ Licenses, Motor Vehicle Registration And Motor Vehicle Tags, Crist Again Insisted They Were Fee Increases, Not Tax Increases. WALLACE: “I’m going to get to Mr. Rubio in a minute. But you also signed into law higher fees on drivers’ licenses and on motor vehicle registration, motor vehicle tags. You said these aren’t broad-based taxes. Governor, 16 million people are drivers in Florida and there are 18 million motor vehicles. CRIST: No, I understand that. I understand that, Chris. WALLACE: That’s a pretty broad-based tax, isn’t it? CRIST: Well, I don’t think it’s a tax. It’s a fee. If you don’t drive, you don’t pay it, if you look at it by its pure common- sense definition.” ( Fox News Sunday Florida Primary Debate, 3/28/10)

Via: GOP.com

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