Issues
The Economy & Jobs
Education
Health Care
Good Government & Accountibility
Israel
Women's Reproductive Rights
The Economy & Jobs
With Florida’s unemployment rate at 12 percent -- the highest ever recorded -- we need to invest in and encourage good paying and smart jobs, while assisting those struggling to meet mortgages and buy groceries. A stronger economy provides the tax base for quality schools, libraries, and police and fire-rescue services. As a State Senator I will work to:
Step 1 – Fix our unemployment system
Our first priority has to be helping those that are the victims of the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression.
Our unemployment system has not been updated since its creation in 1935. The system is outdated, and simple modifications would not only make the system operate more smoothly, but would make Florida eligible to receive over $400 million in federal dollars.
Unfortunately, the Florida Republican Party, in this instance, have chosen to be to the right of Sarah Palin. While 35 other states have updated their Unemployment systems and received these vital federal dollars, Florida chose to punish our unemployed workers, our businesses, and our taxpayers.
Step 2 - Put Floridians back to work
This past session, the Republicans in Tallahassee decided to take money from the transportation fund. This was a bad idea, and Governor Crist deserves credit for using his line-item veto to stop it.
There is one guaranteed way to stimulate the economy and get people to work – build infrastructure. The money that we put into fixing our roads and building bridges goes directly to workers in the state of Florida.
Step 3 – Invest in our future
Florida is blessed with abundant natural resources, and one of the best ways to ensure that we have sustained economic growth is to develop these resources. Currently, our economy relies heavily on tourism and agriculture. We need a broader base of industries if we are to have a prosperous economy into the future.
We have thousands of miles of coastline for ocean and tidal power. Indeed, steps are being taken to research this clean and endless supply of energy at our own Florida Atlantic University. (See this fantastic story about the work they’re doing here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16713781).
We can also use sugar cane waste for fuel. There is already one plant of this type in operation here in South Florida, and we should continue research into areas such as these, where waste products can be reused and recycled.
Quality teachers are the key to a quality education, yet the Republican leadership in 2010 passed legislation linking teacher pay to student test scores while eliminating tenure for all new hires. Our teachers need to be respected and listened to and not dominated by high stake tests that eliminate creativity and individuality.
I opposed the Senate Bill 6 legislation, loudly, at half-past midnight on the House floor. I spoke about the reasons teachers leave their jobs, and how Senate Bill 6 did nothing to attract or retain good teachers.
As a state senator, I will continue to fight against ham-handed approaches to improving education. We should be supporting teachers, not threatening them. Improvements need to be transparent and discussed by all affected stakeholders, particularly those on the front line – our teachers.
But beyond opposing the Jeb Bush education agenda, there are things we need to address in education. I am a passionate advocate for the Pre-K programs that Florida has adopted, and would like to see them expanded. I am concerned about the high school dropout rate in Florida, and plan to work on ways to prevent kids from dropping out and how to help those kids who aren’t cut out for a traditional academic program learn the skills they’ll need to succeed in life.
Health Care
Privatization of programs funded by the state is a favorite goal of Republicans. One of the worst things Republicans tried to do this year was force every Medicaid patient in the state into an HMO. Under the guise of better oversight and less fraud, they tried to privatize Medicaid, which is close to a quarter of the state’s budget.
It was a state-sponsored creation of a for-profit middleman to manage tax dollars involving moderate to low income citizens of our state. It was a terrible deal for Medicaid patients. The legislation failed in the end and I will continue to fight against such plans.
I will also continue to fight against funding cuts to some of our most vulnerable treated in nursing homes and hospitals. Similar efforts also needed for preventive health care programs for pregnant women and infants such as Healthy Start and Healthy Familes.
Good Government & Accountability
Cynicism of elected officials undermines those truly committed to doing their job on behalf of the citizens of our state. This spring I sponsored legislation giving counties the ability to increase the maximum fine and jail time for violation of standards of conduct and financial disclosure.
This bill, now law, was inspired by the troublesome actions in Palm Beach County that led over a short period of time to the removal and federal convictions of five locally elected officials. Nationally, Palm Beach was named ‘Corruption County.’
State attorneys now have more tools to fight corruption. The law also gives greater pause to those elected by the people to serve the people -- and not themselves. The legislation came from recommendations of the Palm Beach County Grand Jury report on public corruption. Local ethics violations are now punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or up to a year in jail. Previously, the maximum punishment was $500 or 60 days in jail.
I will continue to support meaningful ethics legislation.
Israel
Those who know me are familiar with my passion for a safe and secure state of Israel, America’s most consistent ally in the Middle East on Democracy and the fight against international terrorism.
In June, the United Nations voted for economic sanctions to encourage Iran from building nuclear arms and missiles that could be used against Israel. But more can be done, and I am firm believer in using our economic arsenal here in Florida.
This spring I sponsored legislation to prohibit Florida’s government from creating or renewing contracts with companies that do business with Iran. (HB 743 http://myfloridahouse.com/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=43148&SessionId=64)
I will never stop my efforts to hinder Iranian leaders who deny the Holocaust and call for wiping Israel off the map.
Abortion
This past session, the Republican-controlled legislature passed an anti-choice bill, HB1143, at the 11th hour. The bill, and the way that the debate was conducted, were an insult to the women in this state.
I take the protection of a woman’s right to choose very seriously. It’s not my job and it’s not the job of any of the legislators in Tallahassee to tell women what to do with their bodies.
I was honored to be named Planned Parenthood’s Legislator of the year a few months ago, and I will continue to stand firm on this issue. Women have the right to make decisions about their bodies, and I will never vote to restrict that right.
