Issues

John Lindsey for Florida

It is my duty and honor, as a candidate for office, to let you know where I stand on the key issues facing us.  I firmly believe that Florida can be the state where business, education and recreation combine to create the opportunities necessary for “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

State Sovereignty

Governments are created to protect the rights, liberties and properties of its citizens. When this country was founded and our forefathers laid out a plan of government, they gave certain rights to the federal government, leaving all remaining rights to the individual states and the people.  This is to say that the state of Florida has the power to govern its own affairs except those granted to the federal government. As your representative in Tallahassee, I will work diligently to retain Florida’s authority over state issues. Whether the issue is healthcare, education, agriculture, environmental protection or gun control, it is the state of Florida that has jurisdiction over these issues within our state. The only stance for any elected official should be the protection of our rights as citizens.

Immigration

With billions of dollars spent annually on issues related to illegal immigration, our current elected officials are not being vigilant in their responsibility to protect and defend the rights and property of our legal residents.  We must not allow “illegal aliens” to usurp the “rule of law” and take benefits from the lawful citizens of Florida. This year our legislature failed to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill.  The protection of our own citizens must come before those who have entered this nation by violating our laws.  Our laws, borders and sovereignty must be respected and upheld.

Education

Education is critical to the future of Florida. Our teachers must be allowed to teach in an environment that is conducive for learning.  Disruptive, unruly or violent students should be removed from the classroom and/or offered an alternative education if warranted.  We must focus on the basic fundamentals of education to include reading, writing, mathematics and our U.S. history beginning with the discovery and founding of this country.  Any “K through 12” curriculum that does not educate our youth in these fundamentals should be questioned as to its true intent, merit or motive.  Teachers must be rewarded for performance, not tenure.  Florida should determine the educational standards of its schools and not Washington, D.C.

Taxes

I will oppose any attempt to institute a state income tax in Florida and I will also oppose any measures that would seek to raise taxes on Floridians.  Raising or creating new taxes in this economic climate is not the way to comply with the state’s balanced budget requirement. The state government should learn to do more with less, just like the citizens.  Also, the government should not do what the private sector can do for itself.  Charity is not a function of government, nor is wealth redistribution.

Jobs

Free enterprise and small business ownership have given our citizens the freedom to pursue life, liberty and property as described in both the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Florida.  Our state government employs fewer workers per capita than any other state in the nation, while the small business owners of this state employ the majority of our residents.  I will support legislation that empowers private business, promotes free markets and decreases governmental regulations.  Employment by businesses and not welfare from the government will move our economy forward.

Transportation and Energy

I do not support “Sun Rail” or any other government run and taxpayer supported railway system.  I am for free enterprise and will support and promote reasonable legislation that will allow oil exploration and production, create fuel refineries, decrease our dependence on foreign energy or remove the red tape from building power plants in and around the state of Florida. It should not take 12 years to permit and build a power plant in this state, nor should we be afraid to embrace new technology in fuel refining and production. By supporting this type of legislation and industry, I believe that jobs will be created across the spectrum.

Please join me as I take a stand on conservative principles. If there is a particular issue that you are concerned about which I have not addressed, please contact me at john@johnlindseyforflorida.us or contact Teri Strong, Campaign Manager teri@johnlindseyforflorida.us. While we may not agree on every single issue, as your State Representative I will listen to and respect your ideas and opinions.

May God bless the United States of America, the great State of Florida and each of us.

Sincerely,