I am a proud Floridian. For far too long, however, our state has had the dubious distinction of being one of only three states that permanently bans non-violent, ex-felons from voting. The disenfranchisement of 1.5 million of our fellow citizens is shameful, a holdover of Jim Crow-era policies that had no place in our democracy more than a century ago — let alone in 2018. And although a recent court ruling found Florida’s system unconstitutional, we still do not have automatic restoration or an ...
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When Floridians went to the polls in 2016, more than just names were on the ballot. Included was Amendment 2, amending our state constitution to legalize medical marijuana. Amendment 2 received the support of 71 percent of voters – surpassing the 60 percent needed for passage. Do you know how hard it is to get more than 70 percent of the people to agree on anything these days? But Floridians understood that medical marijuana is vital to alleviating the pain and suffering caused by serious illnes...
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I was governor of Florida when the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in April 2010. Over the next three months, more than 200 million gallons of oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico. I remember the tar balls that washed up along Florida’s pristine beaches, the marine life covered in toxic sludge, the near-collapse of our fisheries and tourism industry, and the tragic loss of life aboard the Deepwater Horizon. But most of all, I remember the looks on the faces of my fellow Floridians living through th...
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Floods can happen anywhere and at any time. The National Flood Insurance Program has provided peace of mind and economic security to millions of American families and property owners for nearly five decades. For many, NFIP is the only choice they have for protection against floods. And our state is the biggest player. We are home to nearly 40 percent of all NFIP policies and paid nearly $1 billion into the program last year. On top of that, we are ground zero for rising sea levels, hurricanes an...
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Too often, all the American people see of Congress is hyper-partisan bickering on cable TV. What they don’t see when the cameras are turned off? Many of us are friends. The policy disputes? They aren’t personal, even when passionate. We are passionate because we all love our country. We want to serve the people who sent us to Washington to get things done for the American people. And we believe strongly in what we stand for. But we can disagree without being disagreeable. And the way we carry ou...
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Pinellas County received good news last week from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — almost $30 million in federal funding is now available to renourish up to 10.5 miles of our beaches. Beach renourishment is critical to protecting our coastline and our economy. We have some of the best beaches in the world, visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, which provide unrivaled recreational opportunities for everyone and important natural habitat and nesting grounds for shorebirds, sea ...
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Social Security and Medicare represent America’s promise that after a lifetime of hard work and paying into the system, senior citizens have earned greater financial security in their golden years, free from abject poverty. Likewise, Medicaid is a commitment to the very poor and disabled, that they not be left hopeless and without medical care. My neighbors in Pinellas County, who I am proud to represent, expect that when their leaders give their word, they keep it. Social Security remains stron...
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