Thurston Says a Strong Middle Class Deserves Focus on Jobs, Education and Health Care
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THURSTON SAYS A STRONG MIDDLE CLASS DESERVES FOCUS ON JOBS, EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE
Florida House Democratic Leader’s State of the State Comments
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston (D-Fort Lauderdale) will present a House Democratic Caucus perspective on the State of the State address in which he challenges the Florida Legislature to empower Florida’s middle class and small businesses by focusing on investments in job creation, education and health care.
“The best way to create jobs and secure a strong economy for Florida is to invest in our future,” says Leader Thurston. “We need to educate our children and increase the success of our public schools. We need to make sure that Floridians have health insurance. And we must allow for the Medicaid expansion that could save the lives of thousands of adults and children every year. These are not issues to play politics with. These are issues that demand leadership.”
Thurston, who leads the 44-member Florida House Democratic Caucus, presents his videotaped remarks following Governor Rick Scott’s State of the State address and a response by Senate Democratic Leader Chris Smith, all of which are being carried by The Florida Channel on public broadcasting stations throughout the state and through livestreaming via www.TheFloridaChannel.org on Web 1.
In his brief comments, Leader Thurston said Democratic members of the House of Representatives this year will strive to ensure that Florida “makes a commitment to equity and opportunity for all, secure jobs with upward income mobility, safe communities, a strong education system, and affordable health care.”
Thurston also said the Florida Legislature must do better than it has done lately, including two years ago when Governor Scott and the Republican-run Legislature slashed $1.3 billion from public schools.
“By focusing on education and health care, House Democratic Caucus members hope Florida can begin to shift state investments from addressing problems after they develop to preventing them in the first place,” said Thurston.
“Expanding Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act is not just an achievable approach to ending Florida’s problem of a vast uninsured populace. It’s also a means of accelerating Florida’s economic recovery to restore our shared prosperity.”
The following are Leader Thurston’s prepared remarks, which will be carried on The Florida Channel:
Hello. I’m State Representative Perry Thurston. As the House Democratic Leader, I am proud to speak to you about the state of our state.
Floridians deserve better leadership than what the Republicans have delivered.
The best way to create jobs and secure a strong economy for Florida is to invest in our future.
We need to educate our children and increase the success of our public schools.
We need to make sure that Floridians have health insurance. And we must allow for the Medicaid expansion that could save the lives of thousands of adults and children every year.
These are not issues to play politics with. These are issues that demand leadership.
The legislative session that starts now presents many important opportunities and challenges.
I am grateful to work with a 44-member strong House Democratic Caucus comprised of talented lawmakers from throughout Florida and from all walks of life.
We will work on behalf of you — our neighbors, and our communities.
In looking out for small businesses and the middle class, we believe the new state budget should be guided by one simple premise… Every Floridian deserves a fair opportunity to achieve the American dream.
Democrats in the House of Representatives will work this year to ensure that our state makes a commitment to equity and opportunity for all, secure jobs with upward income mobility, safe communities, a strong education system, and affordable health care.
We believe in an effective and efficient government that uses your tax dollars wisely, and makes smart investments.
And with a budget surplus available for the first time in five years, the Legislature has opportunity now to do more than just window-dress education issues as the governor has proposed.
We’ve got to do better! And we certainly have to do better than what occurred only two years ago when Governor Scott and the Republican-run Legislature slashed one-point-three-billion dollars in funding from Florida’s schools.
We also must do better than last year when the state cut Bright Futures Scholarships that help students attain a college education.
By focusing on education and health care, House Democratic Caucus members hope Florida can begin to shift state investments from addressing problems after they develop to preventing them in the first place.
Expanding Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act is not just an achievable approach to ending Florida’s problem of a vast uninsured populace. It’s also a means of accelerating Florida’s economic recovery to restore our shared prosperity.
Governor Scott has cut more than a billion dollars from education while giving tax breaks to big corporations. He has the wrong priorities on education, jobs, land and water usage, and voting rights.
The Legislature is taking steps to reverse bad decisions that were made only two years ago that made it harder for people to exercise their right to vote.
While there will be bipartisan progress on this important issue, there’s much more work to be done. Florida needs more voting days, more polling locations, and for those voting sites to be properly staffed and properly equipped.
There are many changes still needed to ensure that everyone’s vote is counted, whether the vote is cast on Election Day, by mail, or through early voting.
In the House Democratic Caucus, our priorities are clear: Putting children and education first, investing in jobs and innovation for Floridians, protecting our environment, and promoting public safety and health, as well as our state’s great diversity and workforce.
Thank you!
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