ELECTIONS ARE COMING: FLORIDA 2014 PART ONE DISTRICTS 1- 13….SEE NOTE PLEASE
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/florida-part-i-of-ii-2014-candidates-for-congress-where-they-stand?f=must_reads
FAMILY SECURITY MATTERS HAS A NON PARTISAN LIST…JUST THE FACTS ABOUT ALL INCUMBENTS AND CHALLENGERS AND THEIR HOT BUTTON ISSUES. THIS IS MY OWN LIST WHICH INCLUDES MY PERSONAL CHOICES AND INFORMATION ON HOW THESE CANDIDATES ARE RATED BY THE ARAB AMERICAN INSTITUTE.
FLORIDA 2014- DISTRICTS 1-13
Filing Deadline (Federal Candidates): May 2, 2014
Please note that filing is still open for challengers.
Primary August 26, 2014
To see the actual voting records of all incumbents on other issues such as Foreign Policy, Second Amendment Issues, Homeland Security, and other issues as well as their rankings by special interest groups please use the links followed by two stars (**).
U.S. SENATE
Bill Nelson D) –Next Election in 2018.
Marco Rubio (R) – Next Election in 2016.
U.S. CONGRESS:
District 1
Jeff Miller (R ) Incumbent **
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Jeff_Miller.htm **
http://jeffmiller.house.gov/issues/
Rated -5 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ENERGY
The time has come for our nation to develop a comprehensive energy policy that recognizes the importance of nuclear energy. Modern nuclear power plants are an incredibly safe, clean, and efficient way of generating electricity. Bringing more of these plants online would reduce our dependence on other sources of electricity and potentially save consumers millions of dollars. Our nation has several renewable energy sources at its disposal. I support an “all of the above” approach as a comprehensive energy solution.
Supports Keystone Pipeline
IMMIGRATION
Many of my colleagues in the House agree with this “enforcement first” approach, knowing full well that if we do not take steps to secure our border then other methods of addressing immigration will be useless. We were saddened to see the Senate not only consider amnesty provisions, but also provisions allowing citizenship for the nearly 12 million illegal immigrants currently residing within our borders. That misguided approach not only forgives criminals; it rewards them. I find this stance on illegal immigration both wrong and unacceptable, and will continue to fight for the House immigration reform bill and reject any provisions from the Senate or elsewhere that allow amnesty for illegal immigrants. The taxpayers of this nation deserve better, and it is my commitment to see that they receive it.
HEALTHCARE
Voted against Obamacare and for repeal
July 7, 2013
I believe that the Wall Street Journal’s findings are simply another reason to continue with the House-led efforts to repeal and defund Obamacare, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to achieve this goal.
John Krause (R) Challenger
Travis Miller (R ) Challenger
Website in formation He was a candidate in 2010
James Bryan(D )Challenger
No current website
Bryan is the holder of two world records for parachuting, records which still hold today, and also is an expert with nuclear weapons. He has received over 30 combat decorations, including 3 purple hearts and saved over 200 lives.
Jim was a weapons test manager for a major weapons program for the Department of Defense and the United States Army Tactical Nuclear Weapons Program. He is a master parachutist, master gunner and heavy weapons expert. He helped train then 2nd Lieutenant David Petraeus, from 1975 through 1977 and later built a trucking business in Arizona.
District 2
Steve Southerland (R ) Incumbent **
http://southerland.house.gov/index.cfm/on-the-issues
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Steve_Southerland.htm **
Rated -4 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
Opposed Arms Treaty that limits gun trade to Israel & Taiwan. (Nov 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ENERGY
http://southerland.house.gov/index.cfm/on-the-issues?p=energy
As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I’ve voted for and helped advance key pieces of legislation to expand access to American made energy and put our Gulf Coast communities back to work, including the Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act, the Restoring American Offshore Lease Sales Now Act, and the Reversing President Obama’s Moratorium Act. These common sense, House-approved bills would lift the Obama Administration’s ban on Gulf energy exploration, establish a safety review for lease permits, and help jumpstart job growth in Florida and other Gulf states.
https://www.facebook.com/RepSteveSoutherland/posts/510103122372250
Here’s my floor speech urging construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. It is ridiculous for this administration to put the brakes on American energy independence and 40,000 new U.S. jobs, simply for political purposes. Let’s get to work!
HEALTHCARE
http://southerland.house.gov/index.cfm/health-care
One of my first actions in Congress was to co-sponsor H.R. 2, the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, which would repeal PPACA. I also co-sponsored legislation to defund the accounts set aside to implement the law. I remain committed to replacing the current law with common sense reforms that expand access to quality, affordable health care without imposing massive tax increases, crippling mandates, or bureaucratic red tape.
IMMIGRATION
http://southerland.house.gov/index.cfm/immigration
First and foremost, I believe there must be no amnesty. I am strongly opposed to allowing those who willfully break our immigration laws to gain advantage over those who lawfully entered our great nation. We need to learn from the mistakes of our past, particularly during immigration reform in the 1980s, to ensure we don’t repeat them.
I am a believer in proper process, and there is no policy challenge more desperately in need of proper process than immigration reform. In order to strengthen our immigration system, we must first properly address one of the greatest threats to national security – our unsealed borders.
Gwen Graham (D) Challenger
Luther Lee (IND) Challenger
http://www.lutherlee4congress.com/
William Cleave Drummond (REFORM)Challenger
http://drummondforcongress.org/
District 3
Ted Yoho(R ) Incumbent
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Ted_Yoho.htm **
No issues on Foreign Policy
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
http://www.tedyoho.com/issues/
ENERGY
We need to drill here, drill now and drill responsibly. We must build the Keystone Pipeline and decrease regulations on energy companies to utilize our Nation’s natural resources. In addition, I will support all forms of alternative energy provided they are market driven and are not subsidized by the government. Finally, it’s time to abolish the Department of Energy.
IMMIGRATION
We are a country of immigrants. However, Washington has ignored this problem for 30 years. Illegal immigration and a broken path to citizenship threatens our national security and has created a strain on our social programs.
Solution: We need to secure the border. We have not harnessed the technology, infrastructure and man power to protect our borders and we must do so immediately. I will introduce a workable guest worker program that provides immigrant workers with a national ID card and mandates they pay taxes through a national tax ID number. Finally, the process to become a citizen needs to be completely streamlined and English needs to be recognized as the official language.
HEALTHCARE
http://yoho.house.gov/issues/health-issues
Your choices in health care should be your own, not the Federal government’s. There are ways to have affordable health care for all that also allow freedom in the marketplace. I am in favor of Heath Savings Accounts that allow you to have a say in how your health dollars are spent. Additionally, we should allow the interstate sale of health insurance to allow consumers more choice. If there is a plan in another state that best fits your needs, you should have the freedom to purchase it without imposed mandates from the Federal government. By unleashing competition into the marketplace we will lower costs and have insurance companies compete for your business.
Jake Rush (R ) Challenger
http://www.jakerushforcongress.com/
Aquaisia Johnson McDowell (D )
Marihelen Wheeler (D ) Challenger
https://www.facebook.com/marihelen.wheeler
District 4
Andre Crenshaw (R ) Incumbent **
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Ander_Crenshaw.htm **
Rated -2 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
http://www.andercrenshaw.com/index.cfm/healthreform
The law may be constitutional according to the United States Supreme Court; however, ObamaCare was bad law yesterday, and it is bad law today. That’s why I voted once again to fully repeal ObamaCare soon after the decision was announced.
ObamaCare has failed to keep the Administration’s basic promises to the American people. They said it would lower your health care premiums, and it didn’t. They said if you like your health care plan, you can keep it, but you can’t. And they said it would save money, and it hasn’t.
Spending over $1 trillion of your money, ObamaCare breaks the bank, raises your taxes, increases premiums, opens the door to a government takeover of our personal and private health care choices and cuts Medicare programs without doing anything to contain costs.
The new government mandates in ObamaCare threaten jobs, reduce wages and stunt economic growth. Plain and simple, ObamaCare is a job killer.
IMMIGRATION
http://crenshaw.house.gov/index.cfm/issues?p=ImmigrationIss
Once we have secured our borders, we must turn our attention to the more than 12 million illegal immigrants already residing here. I do not support amnesty for those individuals who have broken our laws and will work to deport those individuals who have become a financial and social burden on our society. I believe that we must establish an Employer Verification System that is easy to use and provides timely feedback to employers. Any employer that continues to knowingly employ illegal aliens should be assessed heavy fines and penalties.
ENERGY
http://crenshaw.house.gov/index.cfm/energy
Supports construction of Keystone XL Pipeline without limiting amendments
We need to solve the energy dilemma, not make it more difficult. That’s why I have and will continue to support legislation that boosts production and exploration of American-made energy; promotes new, clean, and reliable sources of energy; encourages greater efficiency and conservation; and cuts red tape and frivolous lawsuits.
The bottom line: energy is the lifeblood of our economy, and we need to make it more accessible and affordable. My four-prongapproach moves us in that direction. Increated domestic energy production provides an opportunity to put folks back to work and take the uncertainty out of where we secure our energy.
Gary Konitz-(Write In)
District 5
Corinne Brown (D ) Incumbent
http://www.corrineforcongress.com/
http://corrinebrown.house.gov/
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Corrine_Brown.htm **
Rated +1 by AAI, indicating a mixed Arab/Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ENERGY
http://corrinebrown.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=350
I support a comprehensive energy plan, one that promotes responsible exploration and development while protecting the environment and consumers. I support conservation efforts, increasing research into renewable energy sources and relief for energy consumers in the wake of rising energy costs.
I believe drilling off the coast of Florida is a detrimental environmental and economic miscalculation. Before any new areas are opened and Florida’s pristine beaches are put at risk, I would very much like to see drilling in the areas that are already opened, and increased funding for research for new technologies. As seen by the BP oil spill disaster, the unforeseen cannot be anticipated. The last thing we need to do is endanger nearly one million jobs and the $65 billion tourism industry in our state. Along with my colleagues in the Florida delegation, I will do everything within my power to make sure that drilling does not take place anytime in the near or distant future off the coast of Florida.
Opposed to construction of Keystone XL Pipeline
HEALTHCARE
Voted for Obamacare and against repeal
Thuy “Twee” Lowe (R ) Challenger
On April 30, 1975, the last helicopter to leave the roof of a diplomatic compound in Saigon, Vietnam lifted off. As these last few people so desperate to escape the coming holocaust huddled with their families, the relentless Communist army bore down on the city’s people. Among the refugees was the family of Thuy Lowe.
Thuy knew only two English words when she landed in America, “yes” and “OK”, but committed herself to learning English and becoming an American. Her family began building their new lives in America with a temporary assistance from a church in Winter Park and temporary support from the welfare system. After a few years of hard work and perseverance, her father became a business owner.
Gloreatha “Glo” Smith(R ) Challenger **
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
“With the moral support of her family and church, the Ribault High School graduate was inspired to excel.”
She pursued a Master’s of Business Administration degree and launched a career that now includes more than 20 years of expertise. Her public service ranges from working in the governor’s office to coaching startup businesses.
As an entrepreneur, Glo started a small business. To pass her skills on to help others, she developed curriculum for the University of North Florida’s Small Business Resource Center. With her direction, the program established high-quality businesses in low-income areas of northeast Florida, empowering the area economically.
HEALTHCARE
Obamacare puts the health care system on the wrong track and will expand the role of the federal government in every component of Americans’ health care. To get the health care system on the right track that empowers patients, reduces cost, and ensures access, we must unite behind a Republican lead effort as an alternative to ObamaCare.
ECONOMY, TAXES/JOB CREATION
In 2013, federal spending approached $3.5 trillion and the deficit dropped to “only” $642 billion. Federal spending is out-of-control and is projected to grow even faster in the future, burdening Americans and saddling future generations with a massive, unaffordable debt. Congress should cut current spending and rein in future spending through entitlement reforms, without raising taxes, and while assuring full funding for America’s defense.
Property rights and free markets are an integral component of what it means to be free. Glo Smith is 100% pro jobs: creating an opportunity of meaningful careers for all of those willing and able to work. This election you will have a unique opportunity to choose a leader with credentials to create professional prosperity and real economic development. As an entrepreneur, Glo started a small business. To pass her skills on to help others, she developed curriculum for the University of North Florida’s Small Business Resource Center. With her direction, the program established high-quality businesses in northeast Florida, empowering the region economically. Her credentials extend to a career in the governor’s office, where private sector jobs have dramatically increased, dropping Florida’s unemployment rate to 6.7% as of October 2013. Jobs in the last quarter of 2013 rose by 67,000 with a total job creation of 440,900 in the Governor’s administration. On the federal level Glo will adjoin that success with a national and international initiative to bring significant jobs to Florida’s 5th congressional district.
District 6
Ron DeSantis (R ) Incumbent
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Ron_DeSantis.htm **
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
DeSantis: Administration Cannot Simply Ignore Clear Requirements of the Law
Feb 11, 2014
Press Release
Washington, DC – President Barack Obama has again delayed for most employers ObamaCare’s so-called employer mandate, a major component of his signature health-care law. Rep. Ron DeSantis (FL-06) issued the following statement in response:
“This latest delay represents an acknowledgement that ObamaCare cannot be implemented as written without doing significant damage to the economy. The employer mandate is bad policy and should be fully repealed with the rest of ObamaCare; however, the Administration cannot simply ignore the clear requirements of the law, especially when the motivation for the non-enforcement is transparently political. The President may think that he can ‘do whatever he wants,’ but the Constitution says otherwise.”
DeSantis recently introduced legislation that would require all federal officials who stop enforcing a law to report to Congress the reason for the non-enforcement. DeSantis has also introduced a House resolution disapproving of the failure of President Barack Obama to fulfill his duty under Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.”
http://desantis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/desantis-president-has-usurped-congressional-authorityDeSantis: President has Usurped Congressional Authority
Nov 20, 2013
Press Release
Failed to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”
Washington, DC – In response to President Barack Obama’s repeated decisions to delay and rewrite provisions of the Affordable Care Act by executive fiat, Rep. Ron DeSantis (FL-06) today introduced a House resolution disapproving of the failure of President Barack Obama to fulfill his duty under Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed” and the usurpation of the legislative authority of Congress.
The President has delayed the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate and has publicly declared that the administration will “extend” the legislation’s grandfather clause to those insurance plans not covered by the statute’s text. The Constitution does not delegate legislative authority to the President to rewrite, amend or delay duly-enacted, constitutional laws. Furthermore, lawfully passed changes to the Affordable Care Act codifying the President’s changes to the law have been met with veto threats from the White House.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Ron_DeSantis_Environment.htm
DeSantis signed Letter from the U.S.House of Representatives to Pres. Obama
Dear Mr. President,
We are writing to request that you end your opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline by allowing its long-delayed approval process to be finalized.
When you intervened in January of last year to stop the nearly completed approval process, you emphasized the potential negative environmental impact of the pipeline’s proposed route in Nebraska. These concerns have now been addressed. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman once opposed the pipeline’s route on environmental grounds. However, on January 22, 2013, Gov. Heineman sent you a letter officially informing you of his approval of the new proposed pipeline route.
If approved, the positive impact on our economy would be felt almost immediately. Keystone XL would create an estimated 20,000 new jobs directly, and 200,000 indirectly. Keystone XL would also advance our national security, by providing secure access to petroleum from Canada.
David Cox (D ) Challenger
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
FOREIGN POLICY
There exists no greater responsibility of government than the safety and security of the American people. Continuing the efforts to restore American leadership abroad must be a central priority. Assisting developing countries in the form of aid and resources to build infrastructure must remain a vital part of our humanitarian agenda. We must also support these countries by making a strong commitment to human dignity, support for development, and the fight against poverty and corruption. There is no greater threat to the American people than weapons of mass destruction. We must remain committed to countering violent extremism and insurgency, stopping the spread of nuclear weapons, and resolving and preventing conflict. As a world leader, we must continue to pursue a robust international agenda grounded in the rights and responsibilities of nations.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
As a Nation, we continue to fall behind in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The types of jobs are shifting, training and skill sets needed are shifting. We must commit to producing the best and the brightest in STEM fields. This production starts with investing in our youth, making these fields more attractive at an early age, and investing in job training, ensuring a ready-to-work workforce exists for employers. We must ensure that all communities are equipped with modern communications infrastructures. Infrastructures that provide access to information, allow for increased productivity, and pave the way for new economic development and entrepreneurial opportunities. National standards for broadband connection speeds are needed to help close the digital divide. To remain a forceful Nation, we must strive for cutting-edge advancements. These advancements can be made by providing resources that encourage American innovation to address growing concerns such as sustainable living, climate change, clean energy, and protecting our species.
Andrew Scott (D) Challenger filed- No campaign website
District 7
John Mica (R ) Incumbent **
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/John_Mica.htm**
Rated -2 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
IMMIGRATION
http://mica.house.gov/immigration
Immigration reform does not mean granting legal status to those who have entered the U.S. illegally. As a grandson of legal immigrants, I have been and remain a strong supporter of legal immigration. However, even with these latest calls for reform, I remain opposed to any plan that attempts to give legal status or grant blanket amnesty to those who have entered our country illegally. Granting amnesty in any manner would reward those who enter the country illegally and this is not an acceptable option in any reform measure. I remain supportive of expanding legal immigration, responsible guest worker programs and entry of non-competitive professionals and investors who expand U.S. business and employment.
ENERGY
We must expedite the development of our domestic resources in the short-term. Some short-term solutions to bring immediate relief are to allow expanded natural gas exploration and allow oil production in the ANWR and Outer Continental Shelf with safer measures and better oversight. In addition, increased exploration within the Bakken Fields in the Midwest and other regions is helping top curb our foreign reliance. Increasing the number of oil refineries and their capacity will also aid supply and pricing. Our nation has the resources to sustain our current and future energy needs. Clean energy sources can provide us with a long-term solution to our energy needs, but unfortunately will not solve our problems in the short-term. Forcing extremely expensive solutions will only add to our national debt and increase U.S. spending compounding our problems. We need solutions that will create jobs to accelerate our recovery. Realizing this, the House passed legislation enabling the construction and utilization of the Keystone XL Pipeline, a Bill I sponsored. This legislation will allow for American jobs, cheaper gas pump prices and less dependence on foreign oil.
HEALTHCARE
http://mica.house.gov/health-care
I do not believe expanding the role of government and adding more than 5,000 bureaucrats in Washington will reduce costs and improve care for all Americans. I voted for and will continue to support the repeal and replacement of Obamacare because, as it is implemented, this law will increase regulations and raise the cost of health care for the average American. It is estimated that Americans will be face an average health care premium increase of $2,400 and continue to erode an already weak economy with $500 billion in new taxes, and increase an overburdened deficit with $1 trillion in new government spending.
Don Oehlrich (R) – Challenger
http://www.oehlrichforcongress.com/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
REGULATIONS
- Stop Regulatory Abuse
Thomas Jefferson said “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground”. The Obama Administration kicked that into high gear! Since Obama has become president, there have been over 13,000 new rules published in the Federal Registry. If there are any questions as to the cause of job growth stagnation, you can start right here.
Other issues include Energy Independence, Entitlement Reform, Repeal Dodd/Frank and a Foreign Policy based on American Interests.
HEALTHCARE
- Repeal Obamacare and Reform Healthcare
How do we expect the Federal Government to run our healthcare when they find $60 Billion Dollars of Waste, Fraud and Abuse in Medicare to be acceptable? Repeal The Mccarran Ferguson Act and open competition across State lines and force health insurance companies to compete
TAX REFORM
- Tax Reform and Simplification
The purpose of taxes is to fund the legitimate duties of government not to control the behavior of the taxpayer. According to CCH, the current tax code is 73,954 pages. When stacked, it is almost 13 miles high; the distance of a half marathon. The time and money resources spent to comply with this tax system are unfair, unjust and counterproductive.
David Smith (R) Challenger
http://davidsmithforcongress.com/
http://davidsmithforcongress.com/key-issues/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
DEFENSE AND FOREIGN POLICY
As a combat veteran who has fought for our great country and its democratic values, I believe that those who strive for democracy should have a friend in us. The United States is a superpower because of the great men and women who have served in the defense of liberty and freedom, principles on which this great nation was founded. We must be willing to equip our military with the most advanced tools necessary to execute its missions, to preserve and promote democracy, and to ensure the safe return of our troops. Furthermore, we must oppose tyranny while supporting those countries that fight with us to rid the world of oppressive regimes.
HEALTHCARE
Obamacare continues to hurt Central Florida families and businesses, through canceled insurance policies and increased costs of healthcare. I have spoken with families who have lost healthcare coverage, and business owners who feel deterred from future hiring. This reduces the jobs in our community and further strains our families. I believe we can and must do better. Americans deserve true health care reform – reform that actually addresses the problems that lead to high costs and inaccessibility to quality care. We need policy that spurs competition, reforms malpractice suits, expands access to coverage and safeguards individuals with pre-existing conditions. We must work to achieve true reform that doesn’t infringe on anyone’s liberty. I will fight to limit the federal government’s intrusion on individual healthcare decisions and return the business of healthcare to the private sector.
IMMIGRATION
We need to secure our borders and ensure national security. We cannot have comprehensive immigration reform and preserve the rule of law while we continue to have a porous border. Allowing those here illegally to bypass the current laws is disrespectful of those who have been patiently waiting. Immigrants who have entered the United States illegally should be required to follow the law.
Zechariah Blanchard (R ) Challenger
http://www.blanchardforcongress.com/on-the-issues-2/social_issues/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
IMMIGRATION
I believe the first step is securing our borders. Illegal immigration shouldn’t even be an issue. We should have a secure border so that people can’t come here easily without going through the proper channels. Immigrants should be able to come here and look for work if they want. To deny people the American dream seems immoral. They should be able to apply for citizenship if they have been here for a good deal of time. It’s time we stop spending billions to protect foreign borders and time we start protect our own.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
I support the decriminalization of marijuana at the federal level so that States can make the decision for themselves. I will support decriminalization of marijuana and give states the right to allow doctors to administer the medications they believe will best help their patients.
Wes Neuman (D ) Challenger
Alan Azcona (R) – Challenger filed but no campaign website
District 8
Bill Posey (R) Incumbent **
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Bill_Posey.htm **
Rated -4 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
http://posey.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=302706
Washington, Jul 11, 2012 – Washington, DC – Today the House of Representatives voted to repeal in full the Health Care Reform Law. Congressman Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) released the following statement regarding his vote in support of the legislation to repeal the Health Care Law (H.R. 6079):
“I rise to express my support for the bill before us today that would repeal the health care law. The new health care law is unworkable, unaffordable, compromises the doctor-patient relationship, and undermines individual liberty and personal freedom. It was for these reasons and others that I opposed the bill two years ago.
“Let’s remember that this health care law was drafted behind closed doors and the American people were told by Congressional leaders at the time that Congress had to pass it so that the American people could see what was in the 2,000-page bill. Americans have begun to see more of what is in the bill and according to the latest polls most Americans want the law repealed. Dozens of states, including Florida, have indicated that they will do what the Supreme Court has said they can do, and that is to refuse to implement key components of the law.
ENERGY
http://posey.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=335161
“The Keystone Pipeline will help make America more secure, less reliant on Middle East oil and create thousands of American jobs,” said Congressman Posey. “This project and other energy exploration efforts have long been frozen in bureaucratic limbo which is a major reason why energy development in America has become so costly. We need affordable energy for America’s families, to power our economy, fuel our businesses and create more jobs.”
IMMIGRATION
Enforcing Current Laws – The second step in fixing our immigration system is enforcing the laws we already have on the books, we have millions who willfully entered illegally or violated the terms of their visa, and we have millions of immigrants going through the legal channels to become US citizens. Granting blanket amnesty tells the millions of law-abiding immigrants to ignore the law and that is a message we do not want to send.
Employment Verification – We must have in place an employment verification system to make sure that employers are able to properly screen out job applicants who are not eligible to work in the U.S. We still have over 20 million American citizens who are unemployed or underemployed and our first priority must be ensuring job opportunities exists for fellow Americans.
Corry Westbrook (D) Challenger
http://www.corrywestbrookforcongress.com/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Defending Existing Reforms
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, achieved some important and practical goals.
In Congress, I will vote to protect this bill, unlike Republicans, who have voted almost 40 times to repeal it – without offering an alternative bill. The repeal of health care reform would be a step backward for the families and seniors in our district. Repealing the law would also increase the deficit by $210 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
However, legislation is never perfect and there is room for improvement. As the bill is implemented, Congress should be ready to vote to correct any flaws that arise, in order to eliminate bureaucratic issues for businesses and individuals. Health care costs continue to rise for both individuals and businesses and I will work to improve the legislation in order to lower costs – without losing the necessary and extremely important benefits it has provided Americans.
ENERGY
Protecting our environment while working towards energy independence
Unlike our current member of Congress, I will vote against drilling for oil and gas along Florida’s coast. We do not need a horrific oil spill off our shores, decimating our fisheries and chasing tourists away from our gorgeous beaches.The state of our environment and our energy policies are intertwined. It is time we stop using energy sources that cause air pollution, water pollution, explosions, massive spills, earthquakes, increased asthma attacks, rising sea levels, extreme weather and ocean acidification. All of these problems cost our society an enormous amount of money and the costs will increase.
It is time we switch to clean, renewable energy. I have a lot of experience in this sector, both professionally and personally. I had solar panels installed on my house in Washington, D.C. in 2010. They save me money by reducing the monthly electricity bill and, once they are paid for, they will provide me a nice profit. I want this same benefit for all Floridians.I also want a robust offshore wind industry in Florida and I know how to get it going. Offshore wind could provide Florida with 16% of its electricity, enough for more than 3 million homes, and create between 10,000 and 17,000 permanent jobs. I want these jobs right here – in the 8th district.
WOMEN
No Longer Second-Class in Congress
I want issues important to women to be elevated to the level they deserve and addressed as equal to any other issue. For far too long, women’s issues have been addressed by men, sometimes panels of men, deciding what is best for women. It is time for change.In Congress, I will defend a woman’s right to choose. I am pro-choice and I fully support access to safe and effective birth control, emergency contraception and reproductive health services. I will oppose all attempts to restrict these rights through legislation.
Women earn about 57% of the undergraduate and 60% of the master’s degrees in the U.S., yet they are often still paid less than men. I will work for economic justice for women on all levels of the workplace. This includes ending institutional discrimination by working on legislation that will require equal pay for equal work. I will also support all efforts toward a guarantee of equality in the U.S. Constitution.
Additionally, I will work to protect women (and men) who are serving in the military by supporting legislation that will ensure rape and assaults are treated as the hideous crimes they are. I will also remove some specific decision-making from the military chain of command and remove the institutionalized disincentives to report crimes. Congress must confront this problem immediately.
Unlike our current congressman, I support the Violence Against Women Act. I will go further and work harder to provide more funding to local police to ensure rape kits are processed in a timely manner. The best way to prevent rape and assault is to make sure criminals are taken off the streets and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Gabriel Rothblatt (D )Challenger
https://www.facebook.com/GabrielRothblattForCongress
Karl Balone (Tea Party)
https://www.facebook.com/karl.j.balone
District 9
Alan Grayson (D) Incumbent
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Alan_Grayson.htm **
NO FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Strong supporter of Obamacare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-usmvYOPfco
“Republicans want you to die quickly.” 2009
IMMIGRATION
http://grayson.house.gov/issues/immigration
Some of us are American by birth. Others are desperate to be American by choice. The time for commonsense immigration reform is now. We must set forth a straightforward route to citizenship for the undocumented immigrants who already live in our communities, work for our businesses, and want to give back to the country that they call home. These are hardworking individuals who came here to build better lives for their families—they want the American dream. We can help them achieve that dream right now by passing legislation that includes a path for citizenship for the undocumented immigrants already here, reunites families, and encourages accountability.
ENERGY
http://grayson.house.gov/issues/energy-and-environment
While serving on the Energy Subcommittee, which is in charge of the government’s research programs on energy, I hope to incentivize alternative energy ideas and new methods for energy production. We can unleash American ingenuity to not only lower the cost of energy, but also to mitigate the ill-effects of energy production on the environment. Our nation’s greatest resource is our unrelenting ability to identify smart solutions for the challenges we face.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/21/alan-grayson-keystone-xl_n_3313188.html
Alan Grayson: “GOP’s Keystone XL Bill Is Unconstitutional “
Nick Ruiz 111 (D ) Challenger
http://intertheory.org/nickruizforcongress/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
IMMIGRATION
We cannot be a country that separates basic rights from human beings, from one person to the next, based on ‘legal status.’ I support a a fair and reasonable path to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrant adults and children in the United States.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
I advocate strong environmental protections, such as pollution reductions and coastal conservation. I oppose new oil-drilling in Florida waters.I advocate robust solar technology research and development as the cornerstone of America’s energy policy.
I believe our lands, oceans and shores are precious assets that should be protected from irresponsible over-development, and species devastation.
LABOR
Labor and Workers’ Rights
We must double the minimum wage and enhance workers’ rights, and work toward the creation of programs that involve public and private capital, to increase the livelihood of workers and the sustainability of business. We must commit to ensuring that corporate social obligations and responsibilities are met.
I oppose any effort to repeal collective bargaining.
Creating sustainable, fair wage jobs is my number one priority.
Jorge Bonilla (R ) Challenger **
Navy Veteran
http://bonillaforcongress.com/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ISRAEL-
http://bonillaforcongress.com/issues/israel/#sthash.EfLMyZq9.dpuf
I firmly support Israel’s right to exist and chart its own path to peace with its neighbors, as well as our government acknowledging that Jerusalem is the true capital of Israel.
There is no justification for acts of terror against Israel, and Israel has the same natural right to self-defense as any other nation. Israel must be allowed to govern its own affairs, and we can no longer dictate to Israel where it can build its settlements as it safeguards its security and pursues peace in the region.
HEALTHCARE
http://bonillaforcongress.com/issues/healthcare/
If anyone unfortunately becomes ill and needs to seek the care of a doctor, access to medical care should not be impeded. However, we must ask ourselves whether the best we can do is a government-run healthcare system that raises premiums on working families, slashes vital preventive care, and places a bureaucracy between a woman and her doctor.
Government-run healthcare manages to do all that while forcing layoffs and reductions in hours, forcing people to work multiple part-time jobs, impinging on freedom to worship and disincentivizing people from becoming doctors. We can certainly do better than that. We owe it to our children and seniors to preserve the current healthcare options that they currently receive, and to strive to improve upon them.
IMMIGRATION
Our immigration system is broken, and in dire need of urgent reform both as a matter of national security and as a moral imperative. It is the duty of any sovereign nation to secure its borders. By neglecting our most basic duties, we have fostered the conditions that allow terrorists to abuse our visa system, and enables both human traffickers and violent drug cartels alike to operate freely along our border areas.
In many cases, they victimize the very immigrants that seek to come here in pursuit of a better life. We support reform legislation that secures the border, verifies employment, and prioritizes high-skilled and/or entrepreneurial immigrants. Any path to citizenship must be respectful to those immigrants who are currently following the legal immigration process, as well as to those who have already gone through it.
Carol Platt (R) Challenger
http://carolplattforcongress.com/
Peter Vivaldi (R ) Challenger
http://www.vivaldiforflorida.com/
http://www.vivaldiforflorida.com/issues
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
REGULATIONS
Useless and harmful regulations are choking our small businesses out of existence, this must be stopped.A full review of all federal regulations is needed. Harmful regulation must be repealed.
ENERGY
Develop American energy resources and not kill American jobs in coal, natural gas, and oil.Build the Keystone XL Pipeline from Canada and secure North American energy independence.
ECONOMY
The American economy needs to remain the most vibrant in the world. We cannot allow the federal government to tax and regulate American innovation into non-existence. Foster the right conditions for an American resurgence in the global economy, not hamstring American companies with burdensome taxes that force companies to move jobs overseas.
District 10
Daniel Webster ( R) Incumbent **
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Dan_Webster.htm **
Rated -2 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ECONOMY
http://webster.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=367353
JANUARY 21, 2014
(Winter Garden, FL) – Today, U.S. Representative Daniel Webster (FL-10) announced that he has saved more than one million taxpayer dollars over the past three years through targeted cuts to his office budget. This milestone savings is a practical expression of his efforts to cut wasteful government spending. For three consecutive years, Webster has returned roughly 30 percent of his taxpayer-funded office budget, including nearly $400,000 this year. As he presented a mock check reflecting the savings back to his Central Florida district, Webster issued the following statement:
ENERGY
Approval of the Keystone Pipeline Would Lower Gas Prices says Congressman Daniel Webster
HEALTHCARE
http://electwebster.com/issues/
- ObamaCare has only made the problems with the current health care plan worse, and will drive the US Government further into debt. In addition, this plan continues to threaten thousands of American jobs with rising costs and premiums.
- President Obama’s health care program imposes unfunded mandates on individuals and businesses and significantly raises costs across the board. American employers and workers cannot afford to take on additional financial burdens at this critical point.
- I strongly support any action to de-fund and repeal President Obama’s health care legislation.
Bill Ferree (D ) Challenger
http://www.ferreeforcongress.com/
http://www.ferreeforcongress.com/issues
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
The Affordable Care Act needs significant improvement and much better management. However, the key components of the law – guaranteeing coverage for those with pre-exisitng conditions, the elimination of lifetime caps, coverage for college students, and subsidies for those who can’t otherwise afford insurance – are all sound. Outright repeal would not only create havoc in the market, but it would return us to an even worse situation. I will work to help identify areas in the law that need fixing, and work across the aisle to develop solutions that will benefit all Americans.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
We must continue to protect clean air and water, and demand greater accountability of polluting businesses. Full funding of the Environmental Protection Agency is essential.
Some EPA work is producing very high return on investment. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, (sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from power plants) if implemented, has benefits projected at $120-280 billion annually with compliance costs of $800 million, a return of well over 100 to 1.
Additionally, lawsuits brought against EPA have established that it must regulate CO2 emissions as an air pollutant. It must have the resources to carry out that task.
Michael McKenna (D ) Challenger
http://www.mckennaforcongress.com/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Health care for every American is a right. Affordable health care for every American is the goal. I support the initial direction of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This Act is not perfect and there is fine-tuning that needs to take place. Even so, it does implement reform necessary to ensure there is no discrimination from insurance companies against those with pre-existing conditions, and guaranteeing women access to essential health services they require. We must continue to design a comprehensive plan that makes health care more effective, cost efficient and transparent.
IMMIGRATION
It has become increasingly clear that our immigration system is broken, especially over the past several years. The business community, unions and American public have called on Congress and Senate to pass a comprehensive immigration reform that not only brings the millions of undocumented immigrants who live in our Country out of the shadows, but also provides a realistic solution to stop unlawful immigration and create a fair, efficient immigration system. In order to facilitate a clear, productive conversation in Washington on immigration it is important that this conversation be geared towards principles. These are four principles I believe Washington needs to adhere to:
· Growth – The economic benefits of immigration reform, including creating jobs, innovation and entrepreneurship.
· Efficiency – The efficiency of immigration processing and enforcement to stop unlawful immigration.
· Fairness – The need to ensure that those who reside in the United States are paying taxes and that there is a level playing field for businesses and workers.
· Inclusion – The inclusion of those who want to make right by the law and contribute to our country, pay taxes and become a citizen by learning English.
Shayan Modaress (D ) Challenger
http://www.shayanforcongress.com/
http://www.shayanforcongress.com/issues/#toggle-id-1
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Moving Forward with Refining Reforms, Not Obsessing Over Repeal.
Access to affordable healthcare is a fundamental human right. The 2010 reform to healthcare in America was a major step in the right direction, but progress is not perfection.
No American should be placed in a position of being denied coverage by insurance companies, and being afraid to get medical treatment for fear of the astronomical costs that will be incurred. That is why I support the ACA, and will propose ideas to refine it rather than repeal it.
IMMIGRATION
I strongly support comprehensive immigration reform which will give undocumented immigrants an opportunity to earn legal status. Many of these individuals have children who are American citizens. I support granting an opportunity for these fellow human beings to earn lawful permanent resident status, coupled with a fair path to U.S. citizenship. I believe the two issues are inseparable because awarding legal status without a path to citizenship does nothing more than create a legal underclass that has no hopes for upward social mobility, equal treatment or opportunity in America.
Republicans have attempted to increase the number of guest workers in the United States by relaxing caps on H1B and construction visas while American workers in the United States are unemployed. We cannot allow more workers from abroad to be granted visa’s while at the same time denying immigrants in the United States the opportunity to become citizens.
District 11
Rich Nugent(R ) Incumbent **
http://www.ontheissues.org/FL/Rich_Nugent.htm **
http://www.nugentforcongress.com/
Rated -4 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Voted against the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and for repeal
ENERGY
Favors construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline
Bruce Ray Riggs (Tea Party) Challenger
Dave Koller (D )Challenger
http://www.davekoller.com/splash/
http://www.davekoller.com/web/issues.php
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
- Creating Jobs & a Strong Economy
- Strongly Supporting Public Education
- Supporting our Veterans in continued education and acclimation back into civilian life
- Supporting our Senior Citizens
- Ensuring a social safety net for our Most Vulnerable Citizens
- Equality for all
- Protecting our Environment
- Keeping America Safe
- Strengthening Labor Unions
- Supporting a Woman’s Right to Choose
District 12
Gus Bilirakis (R )Incumbent **
http://www.ontheissues.org/fl/gus_bilirakis.htm **
http://bilirakis.house.gov/#dialog
Rated -3 by AAI, indicating a anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
Oppose Arms Treaty that limits gun trade to Israel & Taiwan. (Nov 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
February 12 ,2014
Bilirakis: Another Obamacare Delay Demonstrates Law’s Fundamental Unworkability
Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), member of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, commented on the Obama Administration’s latest Executive overreach.
IMMIGRATION
http://bilirakis.house.gov/immigration1/
Congressman Bilirakis strongly opposes illegal immigration. He does not believe we should give amnesty or any other reward to those who have broken our nation’s immigration laws because doing so simply encourages continued lawbreaking and greater illegal immigration in the future.
Gus also has cosponsored legislation to prevent states from issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens, stop birthright citizenship, eliminate the visa lottery, and clarify that the Administration should rigorously enforce the laws of the United States to substantially reduce illegal immigration and greatly improve border security.
Gus also has voted to end funding for sanctuary cities (those that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials on enforcement matters), strengthen interior enforcement, and bolster border controls.
ENERGY
STRONG SUPPORT FOR KEYSTONE PIPELINE
James Denton Jr. (R ) Challenger
http://www.dentonforcongress.com/
District 13
C.W. “Bill” Young (R ) Died in office in October 2103
A special election for Florida’s 13th congressional was held on March 11, 2014 to elect a member of the United States House of Representatives, following the death of incumbent Republican Congressman Bill Young on October 18, 2013.
DAVID JOLLY (R) Incumbent
Defeated Alex Sink (D) in the special election to fill Rep. Young’s seat on March 11, 2014.
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Main campaign promise to repeal Obamacare
Obamacare has hurt Pinellas families and businesses, driving up premium prices for many, leading to cancelled policies for many, and burdening small businesses with additional costs that ultimately deter future hiring and reduce jobs in our community. It should be repealed now, and then Congress and the Administration should begin to consider private sector solutions that address very specific problems in the health insurance industry. A government take-over of approximately 1/6 of our nation’s economy is the wrong answer, and ultimately one that will reduce the quality of care for everyone. Government has never shown an ability to improve service and reduce costs; only the private sector can achieve that.
IMMIGRATION
We need to secure our borders. To discuss comprehensive immigration reform while we continue to have a porous border where more people can continue to enter our country illegally ultimately ignores the very basic principle that people in our country illegally should not be given special treatment over those who have been patiently waiting in their country of origin to enter our country legally.
Alex Sink(D) May run as a challenger in the midterm (November 6, 2014) elections.
http://www.alexforcongress.com/
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE
Improving the Affordable Care Act: Keep the Good, Fix the Bad
The rollout of the website and problems that have arisen with the implementation are unacceptable: The Obama Administration needs to be held accountable to get the website running, and making any necessary changes to fix any problems with the law. If these changes cannot be made in a timely way, then components of the law should be delayed until these issues are addressed.
But we cannot go back to a time when individuals with pre-existing conditions were denied care, seniors were forced to pay more for medicine, or insurance companies could do whatever they wanted – including kicking families off their plans because they got sick.
What is not helpful in Congress’ conversation about America’s healthcare was the government shutdown, or the gridlock in Washington that is holding Republicans and Democrats back from working together to get results and solutions – and it’s exactly this culture of dysfunction that I’m running to change.
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