AWAKE THE STATE

from Sharon Lux

Under Rick Scott and his allies, Florida works for the wealthy and well-connected. If we want Florida to work for all Floridians, we have to show our fellow citizens a better way forward.

Sign up to join a local Awake The State event in your community on the opening day of Florida’s legislative session, or organize an event of your own.

Nearly 2,000 of you voted last week to prioritize a series of strong progressive bills. Here are the five you chose as priorities, and what we’ll be advocating for on the opening day of legislative session, Tuesday, March 3rd:

Expand Access to Health Care: Implements expansion of Florida’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act to close the coverage gap. Expansion would provide access to quality health care for nearly one million working Floridians who lack the security of health coverage.

Water Protection Act: Requires the Department of Environmental Protection to establish minimum flow levels for first and second magnitude springs; requires local governments to adopt seasonal fertilizer ordinances; bans the process known as “fracking” statewide. Florida faces a major challenge in both water quality and quantity and needs to take substantial steps to protect our water.

Clean Energy Act: Requires Florida to receive 40% of its energy from non-nuclear renewable sources by 2030. Florida faces serious challenges due to the global threat of climate change, and we should immediately position our state to take advantage of increasingly affordable sources of renewable energy.

Living Wage Amendment: Proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution raising the state’s minimum wage to $15-per-hour, indexed to inflation. Floridians who work hard should be able to pay for basic necessities like food and rent, provide for their families, and contribute to their local economy.

Anti-Corruption Act: Lowers the individual campaign contribution limit to $250, and allows Floridians who contribute to state and local campaigns to request a rebate of up to $25. This proposal would restrict the influence of big money in campaigns, empower small donors, and provide the foundation for a more citizen-funded election process.

These are five bills that would do more for hard working Floridians than anything they’ve done in the last five years. Our fellow citizens need to know they have a real choice in the years ahead. Floridians are stepping up in their own communities to both organize and participate in local events advocating for a progressive agenda.

Stand up for a real agenda that builds a Florida that works for all Floridians. Find a local Awake The State event in your community or organize an event of your own.

Florida has been governed by a pro-special interest, Tea Party-aligned agenda for too long. The wealthy and well-connected have had it their way, and it’s time to advocate for a new path forward for Florida. We can’t do it alone, and need your participation.