ISSUES

Environment

Water safety, renewable energy, and reducing our carbon footprint must be priorities for Congress. This global concern requires all global partners to be on the same page to address climate change. No matter where you live in the United States, access to clean water is vital, but in Florida, water is critical.

Veterans

Our military vets are one of our most important national treasures, and they must be treated as such.  Expecting our vets to put their lives on the line for our freedoms only to deny them appropriate health care or provide them with red tape that delays treatment and services are inexcusable. 

Vets need access to excellent and free health care which includes mental health services.

LGBTQ+

Equality is essential and an obvious right for everyone regardless of race, religion, language, or sexual orientation.  Equality is an “everybody” concern and should never be isolated by ignorance and legislated against.  An attack on a group's rights is an attack on everyone's rights. I condemn any disparate treatment. We are all created equal but not always treated equally.

Health Care

Every American deserves quality health care. No one should go bankrupt due to medical debt. This is achievable with universal health care. Much of this debate does surround itself on the competitive healthcare industry regarding private companies. While I support competition in industries, we must put people’s health in front of corporate profits.

Mental Health Care

We need to invest in mental health in our schools, military, law enforcement and workforce.  As we are faced with so many mass killings that in discussion have been linked to mental health we need to take a closer look and begin to require more mental health resources in the form of training to deal with it and training to treat it.  We can prevent a lot of harm with resources available in our society. 

Immigration

Our immigration laws must be fair and firm. We can welcome those from around the world who look to America for asylum or assistance and a slice of that American pie. From our very beginning, we have helped countries in need and accepted their people. We can still do that and be a safe, welcoming nation.

Education

There are more than 88% of our K-12 kids enrolled in Public schools and approximately 11% in private or charter schools but the investment in our public schools does not reflect that disparity.  This lack of investment is demonstrated by the state’s bottom half ranking in the United States.  We have a lack of resources provided to our schools that ensure our kids' safety and/or improve the level of education.

Women's Rights

Women should have the legal right to determine what is best for themselves and their own bodies. Overturning Roe v Wade will not outlaw abortion or end abortion. It will put millions of women’s lives at risk. The decision to take away a woman's right to choose takes us backward and divides us.  As stated before equality is a universal concern and the principles should be unwavering. 

Police Reform

Let me be clear, we need to upgrade the funding for police education. I support law enforcement and encourage more investment to enhance our community's and our kids' safety.  Our law enforcement community is expected to do too much with too few resources. Additional resources can provide advanced training in conflict de-escalation as well as additional personnel and or training relative to mental health and conflict negotiators.

Voting Rights

A fundamental right that has always been under attack through insane rhetoric is now being codified into law in many states and here in the state of Florida.  We need to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. We need to make voting easier for our citizens, especially those in underrepresented and disadvantaged communities.  We can do this while protecting the integrity of the voting process.  We have access to advanced technology that can accomplish these goals of ensuring safe and fair elections. No one should struggle to register or to vote because of where they live, access to transportation, or other challenges.

Elections Reform

Our current system is killing our democracy and creating an increasingly cynical electorate. Remove dark money, super PACs, and corporate contributions. Cap spending and limit election cycle times. 

Marihuana

Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage , transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages. We did away with the prohibition of alcohol and legalized it, we taxed it and we regulated it. It has been researched that Alcohol poses more harm and danger than Marijuana so when we legislate it to legalize it we can regulate it and derive a revenue base from it eliminating illegal and dangerous distribution. Let’s repeat good history and Legalize it, tax it, and regulate it.  This will decrease crime, release prisoners by decriminalizing marijuana and expunge all criminal records for those convicted of only marijuana possession and return to society as citizens contributing to the economy and increase financial support that will in turn pay for community needs in education, healthcare and the safety of our children in schools.  It's a win-win that I support.