Issues
Economy & Jobs:
Small business is the driving force behind Florida’s economy. With statewide unemployment at a record high, encouraging small business is the key to moving our economy and creating new jobs. Government must make it affordable for existing business owners to operate and retain employees, ease the way for future growth and attract new businesses through tax incentives and decreased regulation.
Port Manatee:
The growth of Port Manatee is essential to our local economy and the Port Manatee Encouragement Zone must be permitted to act as a catalyst. The port currently supports more than 20,000 jobs, moves 9 million tons worth of product and has an economic impact of over $2.3 billion dollars to the region each year. As the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the Panama Canal, it has the potential to make a substantially larger impact on our economy once the expansion of the canal is complete.
Agriculture:
The agriculture industry is another keystone to our local economy and must be encouraged. In our area, agriculture has an economic impact of over $600 million dollars and utilizes over 200 thousand acres of land. Current economic conditions, rising property taxes and excessive intangible taxes are making it difficult for this industry to sustain itself.
Taxes:
Excessive taxes are too often the downfall of small business and property owners. Employers should not be forced to eliminate jobs due to excessive employment taxes. As home values and commercial property values decline, so should property taxes. Government must find ways to reduce unnecessary spending, lessen your tax burden and allow you to keep more of your money in your pocket. I will oppose new taxes.
Healthcare:
Florida must continue to provide residents with accessible, affordable, quality healthcare and make available those programs that serve patients with special needs, children, the elderly and the disabled.
Recruitment & Retention:
Our district boasts one of the largest populations of senior citizens in the state. As many of our doctors begin to retire, it is essential that we find ways to attract new, qualified doctors and make it affordable for them to practice here. Rising costs in malpractice insurance have made Florida an inhospitable place to practice medicine and we must devise ways to lower these costs.
Education:
Florida must strive to develop and maintain a first-rate education system. When we invest in education, our return is a future generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, skilled workers and leaders. Properly funding our current system and eliminating the waste is the key to ensuing that students receive the best possible education.
Technical Training:
New construction and transportation projects within our district will create a demand for workers with specialized skills and technical training. Ensuring that we have the facilities and funding necessary to provide this training to our local workforce will also be important.
Energy:
As oil prices continue to climb and our dependence on foreign oil continues to grow, it is important that we seek out alternative, renewable energy sources, invest in proven methods and offer incentives to residents who do the same.
Solar Energy:
Sunlight is our most abundant natural resource in Florida and advances in solar power have made it affordable for residents to invest in solar energy devices. To encourage more residents to make this investment, we must ensure that we are providing sufficient incentives and justly compensating those who do.
Offshore Drilling:
Drilling for oil off of Florida’s coasts is an option that should be exercised when extracting it is shown to be safe and pose no substantial threat to our environment or tourism industry.
