Issue Position: Florida Issues

Issue Position

I have filed to run for the state house against Erik Fresen (R, Coral Gables), who introduced legislation to bring Las Vegas casino gambling to Florida for companies willing to invest at least $2 billion each in casino infrastructure. Rep. Fresen is employed in the charter school industry, and is also a leader in legislating growth of charter schools.

I'm running against the race to expand casinos. But I'm also running against the legislature that is forcing casinos down our throats, and the same kind of legislative activism that has damaged Florida's education, economy, environment, and health care.

Again and again, haven't we witnessed the state's attempts to solve public problems with "business" solutions? Partnering with private casinos to raise revenues. Grading teachers. Privatizing public health. Outsourcing prisons.

The track record of these efforts has been terrible. Floridians are certainly not better off than we were a decade ago.

Our state legislators are business tycoons in their own minds only. The incumbent representative in my district is the leader of the casino bandwagon, as well as school privatization--but he is no business genius! He has personal IRS tax liens and a home foreclosure to deal with.

Even the best businesspeople have ups and downs. They have the option to try and succeed--or fail--and try, try again. That's the American way.

But education can't gamble. Failure is not an option in health care. State services are not the model of efficiency, but unlike businesses, they do not have the option to go into more lucrative markets.

Florida's government has been shrunk to the point that it barely functions. We have the fewest state employees per capita of any comparable state.

We have no plan for the future other than additional austerity measures. No aspirations to be anything but a second-rate state.

And the best we can come up with is to be another Atlantic City or Las Vegas? For the state that sent men to the Moon, we are not aiming very high!

It's time to start dreaming again of what Florida can be. As my campaign progresses, please share your hopes and ideas for our once-great state.

You can mail requests or comments to: Ross Hancock, 740 Aledo Ave., Coral Gables, FL 33134.

"I don't think Floridians appreciate the ethical challenge that our state faces."
-- Bob Graham

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