Key Issues

America has long been a shining example of how a functioning democracy can thrive.  In recent years, some of the guardrails we all thought were in place have been tested or eroded.  I will fight to strengthen our democracy and protect it by restoring checks and balances, transparency and accountability to protect our country from interference, whether foreign or domestic. 

I strongly support a woman's right to make decisions about her own reproductive health.  Abortion is healthcare.  I trust women and their families to work with their doctors to make the best decisions about their health.  The rollback of Roe v Wade simply put is contrary to what the vast majority of Floridians and Americans want.  I will fight to restore women's rights to make these very personal choices for themselves.  

Americans love the options they have with the Affordable Care Act and the benefits are hard to argue with.  The ACA - often called Obamacare - is a great start, but we can do better.  America can do better for Americans.  Republicans voted over 70 times to repeal or modify Obamacare with no better option ever offered.  I will fight to keep Obamacare as the law of our land and to expand it.

Social Security and Medicare is fundamental in providing economic security and healthcare access to older Americans.  Seniors paid into these programs and should be able to rely on getting the benefits when they need them.  We must strengthen these programs to ensure that all seniors can retire with dignity and access affordable healthcare. This includes keeping pace with the rising cost of living, ensuring the program's long-term solvency, and expanding Medicare to cover essential services like dental, vision, and hearing.  I will fight to ensure Americans can retire with dignity and get out of the program what they paid into it.

As Floridians we live in a paradise of wild areas that deserve our protection.  I will fight for clean air and water and renewable resource generation that will provide quality jobs for all Americans including Floridians in our District.

Florida Amendment 3, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, is on the ballot this November.  Voting for this amendment legalizes marijuana for adults 21 and older and allows individuals to possess up to three ounces of marijuana.  I will fight to legalize recreational marijuana at the federal level, allowing us to tax it for the benefit of taxpayers - no differently than alcohol or tobacco - and let the economic benefit of this well accepted recreational activity accrue to Americans.