Priorities

Affordability

Families across North Florida are feeling the squeeze from higher prices. I will focus on practical steps to ease those pressures: eliminating tariffs, stopping Wall Street from competing with families for buying homes and pricing out first-time homebuyers, and stabilizing property insurance with federal backing where needed. I will support the restoration of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. When markets are fair and families get a level playing field, the cost of living becomes manageable.

A Responsible & Civil Congress

People are tired of theatrics and political games. Congress needs to return to being civil and set an example for the rest of the nation about how to discuss important political matters.  

People want Congress to focus on doing its job.  Congress needs to return to the basics: timely approving the government’s budget, lowering rent and grocery bills, cutting insurance and utility rates, and making sure hard work pays off. My commitment is simple: stay focused on results that matter at the kitchen table, not partisan posturing in Washington. By being transparent about my priorities and accountable for my work, I’ll make sure the government delivers the fair shot every family deserves.

Social Security and Medicare

The funding of Social Security and Medicare needs to be fixed now, not next year, not next term, not when the funds run out but now.  The employer contribution portion of Social Security and Medicare funding needs to be increased to cover the current funding shortfall.  In light of the income tax cuts that employers have received, this increased contribution is a fair trade off.  The amount of wages subject to payroll taxes can also be shifted so the first portion of wages would be exempt – providing an immediate raise to working Americans.

Health Care Costs

To lower health care costs, we need to fix the health care system. There are steps Congress can take to immediately bring down costs and foster better health care delivery.

Countries that have strong primary care systems have better health outcomes at much lower costs. We need to rebuild and fully fund our primary care system and provide payment incentives for specialists to work with primary care doctors instead of competing against them.

Our health care billing system is expensive and convoluted. Congress should mandate standardized claims processing and require simplification of deductibles and copays.

Competition reduces costs and incentivizes better delivery. The Affordable Care Act vastly expanded access to health insurance but changes to the ACA by Congress reduced competition. We need to restore competition by offering a public health insurance option to compete against private insurance. We also need to stop large corporations from owning multiple layers of health care delivery. No insurer should own the doctors who decide your treatment.

Immigration

We have to control our borders. We need a sensible immigration policy that reflects the needs of our nation for workers as well as welcome the world’s best and brightest. We must also reflect our country’s values and accept our fair share of those who flee from persecution, war and other calamities.  

We need to provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who are in our country. Immigrants who are part of our community and are productive members of our society need to be accepted. We need for ICE agents to remove their masks and stop their heavy handed tactics. Masked men in unmarked cars picking people up off the street is kidnapping, it is not law enforcement.

Environmental Protection

I will work to restore sensible environmental regulations and to protect our parks from private developers.  Climate change needs to be acknowledged and sustainable business practices and renewable energy should be encouraged.  While being mindful of the need to protect our environment, our regulatory approval process for construction projects must be changed to be a faster and more certain process.

Good-Jobs Growth

Good jobs are essential for strong families and healthy communities. Government should always be focused on encouraging a strong economy and the growth of good jobs. I will support North Florida’s growing manufacturing and logistics industries. I support sustainable business practices and renewable energy which create career pathways for veterans, apprentices, and local workers. I’ll help small businesses expand into export markets and invest in training that connects people to long-term careers in manufacturing, logistics and infrastructure. These are investments that pay off twice: in stronger paychecks today and in a more resilient, competitive economy for tomorrow.

Term Limits

Congress is out of touch with the American People. Career politicians have forgotten who they serve and are too focused on being re-elected. We need to implement some type of term limits. Jacksonville once had a Representative named Tillie Fowler who said 8 years is enough and she stepped aside after her 4 terms even though she was popular and could have served much longer. I believe Tillie was right and I will only serve 4 terms if elected. Eight years is enough!

Trust & Transparency

Public service is about trust. That’s why I will hold myself and Congress to the highest standards of transparency and accountability. I’ll ensure federal programs are regularly reviewed so tax dollars are spent wisely. North Florida families deserve leaders who take integrity seriously and work every day to earn their trust.

Women’s Rights

I believe we need to respect the dignity of every human being. That includes women making the decision when it comes to their own body. I also believe that women must have the right to good healthcare.

Tax Fairness

Our tax code needs to raise the necessary revenue while also being fair to all. The IRS must be restored to being a well functioning agency and not used to punish partisan enemies. IRS employees need to be respected and not ridiculed. Paying taxes is a key part of our social contract. The IRS should offer software that assist taxpayers with paying their taxes for free. The concept that a taxpayer needs to pay a third party in order to pay their taxes is unacceptable. The tax code’s numerous loopholes and tax breaks that allow billionaires to pay taxes at lower rates than average taxpayers must be eliminated.

National Debt

We need to regain the highest credit rating offered by the rating agencies. It is shameful that we have lost our standing as the highest rated credit in the world due to our political dysfunction.

We need to avoid future government shut downs. Once Congress has approved an appropriation, the obligation needs to be paid. The concept of a debt ceiling is ridiculous due to its arbitrary nature that it is set by Congress.

If Congress is unable to pass a budget, then the government should continue to be funded at the same levels as provided in the prior budget.

Congress needs to change the way it budgets. Budgets need to be adopted sooner rather than at the last minute. In addition, Congress needs to create an operating expense budget and a capital expenditure budget. Congress should budget with the practice that only capital expenditures can add to the deficit. The operating expense budget needs to be fully covered by the expected revenues. The operating expense budget will cover cash expenditures such as payroll and benefit expenditures as well as the debt service on capital expenditures. Using a two budget process like this will provide greater generational fairness since certain expenses like hydro-dams and aircraft carriers have 50+ year lives so why they should be fully expensed in their initial year does not make sense. It will also force Congress to have the discipline to determine how to pay for cash expenditures in the operating budget.