Florida Governor Rick Scott has joined Senator Rubio in support of the Returned Exclusively For Unpaid National Debt (REFUND) Act. This legislation, which was introduced Tuesday and allows states to identify and return unwanted federal funds to the federal Treasury in order to help pay down the national debt, is gaining broad support in the Senate as well. Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-UT), David Vitter (R-LA), John Barrasso (R-WY), James Inhofe (R-OK) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) have all signed on as co-sponsors, with more expected soon.

Scott’s letter, which you can read here (PDF), is significant in that it represents the REFUND Act’s real potential. Many federal aid programs come with strings attached and price tags for states that simply can’t afford more reckless spending. This bill gives state legislatures making the tough but fiscally responsible choice to turn down federal aid an alternative that helps our nation confront its major debt crisis.