Mike Beltran says Kathy Castor has precious little to show for twenty years in office. He claims she did not pass major laws. Instead, he says she renamed post offices.
He warns that reelecting her would only lead to more name changes. He argues this is not what Tampa Bay needs. Castor votes with her party more than ninety percent of the time.
She voted with Nancy Pelosi and supports Hakeem Jeffries. Beltran says Jeffries would appoint radical chairs to committees. He believes these leaders push policies that hurt families.
Beltran wants to stop this pattern in Washington. He promises to bring a cross-examiner’s eye to the budget. He says the federal government is spending too much.
He points to foreign aid as a key issue. He argues we subsidize wealthy nations like Germany. Germany spends less than two percent of its GDP on defense.
The United States spends over five percent on defense. Beltran says this is a one-sided exchange. He notes we borrow two trillion dollars a year.
He links this borrowing to rising inflation. He says we should not fund allies who spend little. Israel and South Korea spend over ten percent on defense.
He says they carry their own weight. He argues other NATO allies do not. He believes they are closer to conflict zones.
He says they should do more for their own safety. Beltran highlights his record in the Florida Legislature. He says he voted against special interests.
He opposed insurance companies and trial lawyers. He claims he acted for Tampa families, not parties. He says Castor only discovered bipartisanship weeks ago.
He questions her legal skills in Congress. He notes she has not practiced law recently. He says he has litigated in federal courts for years.
He knows how to scrutinize witnesses and write clear laws. He contrasts his experience with Castor’s legislative output. He says she opposed tax cuts for middle-class workers.
She voted against removing taxes on tips and overtime. She also opposed removing taxes on Social Security. Beltran finds this unfair for working families.
He points to a recent vote on healthcare. Castor supported using taxpayer funds for surgeries. Beltran opposed this measure.
He asks why single mothers should pay for this. He says they are already taxed on their overtime. He plans to challenge Republican leadership if needed.
He says some Republicans also spent too much money. He promises to work across the aisle when possible. He wants to prioritize fiscal accountability above all else.
He believes the current system is broken. He intends to fix it through strict oversight. The debate centers on who serves the district best.
Beltran argues his independent record proves his commitment. He says Castor’s record shows party loyalty first. Voters will decide who deserves a seat in Congress.
The race highlights deep divisions over spending and values. Beltran stands ready to make his case.