At last night’s debate in Florida’s 26th Congressional District, lobbyist Carlos Curbelo was once again caught on video showing why his self-interested politics are wrong for South Florida – bragging about his record of “cut[ting] over 1,000 jobs” like assistant principals, guidance counselor and college advisors.
“First Carlos Curbelo was caught calling Medicare and Social Security a ‘Ponzi scheme,’ and now he’s bragging about cutting over a thousand education jobs – after funneling millions in taxpayer funded school board contracts to his political donors,” said David Bergstein of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “It’s just the latest sign that Curbelo is looking out for himself, his paying clients and his Tea Party political allies – not South Florida families.”
Previously, Curbelo was caught on camera in Washington calling Medicare and Social Security a “Ponzi scheme.”
VIDEO: CURBELO BRAGS “WE HAVE CUT OVER 1,000 JOBS”
BACKGROUND:
Curbelo Supported Plan That Cut More Than 280 Education Jobs. In 2011, Curbelo supported a budget plan that “cuts administration, trims transportation and consolidates alternative education programs for troubled teenagers. A few hundred construction project managers have lost their jobs. About 280 clerical workers and assistants will also be cut, as will some assistant principals, guidance counselors and college advisors.” [Sun Sentinel, 7/27/11]
Curbelo Shaped Scott’s Education Policies That Led to Proposed $3.3 Billion Cut to Education. In 2010, Curbelo helped shape Governor Rick Scott’s education agenda as a member of his Education Transition Team, leading to a proposal by Governor Scott that cut $3.3 billion from the education in Florida. [Tampa Bay Times, 12/02/10; Politifact, 3/27/14]
Curbelo Voted For Pay Cut Facilities Jobs and Cut Pay for Maintenance Workers. Curbelo “voted to cut more than 200 jobs from its facilities department and give hundreds of maintenance workers a 20 percent pay cut. [Miami Herald, 4/14/11; Item D-25, Miami Dade School Board Minutes, 4/13/11]
Miami New Times: “Carlos Curbelo Has a History of Approving Contracts For Campaign Donors.” “Between 2010 and 2013 Curbelo, while representing District 7 on the board, voted roughly a dozen times to award school board contracts to companies that had donated a total of $25,450 to his well-funded 2010 school board campaign.” [Miami New Times, 7/12/14]