Ron DeSantis (R): Ban. Pledges to sign legislation banning abortions after fetal heartbeat detected (roughly 6 weeks) & to appoint constitutionalist justices to FL Supreme Court who will "protect & defend life."
Andrew Gillum (D): Legal. Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right and decision should be made by women & their doctors--not by politicians. Opposes making healthcare harder for women to access.
Q: Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?
DeSantis: Yes. Employers should not be required to "pay for abortifacients in violation of their faith."
Gillum: No. Proposes a law to protect women's access to no-cost contraceptive care under ObamaCare.
Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion healthcare?
DeSantis: No. Voted for a bill to end funding.
Gillum: Yes. Challenged Rick Scott effort to defund Planned Parenthood.
Ron DeSantis (R): Yes. "The reforms will better enable American companies to compete with foreign businesses & will help stem the tide of companies & jobs going overseas."
Andrew Gillum (D): No. Puts "billions of dollars in the coffers of our richest corporations, money that would otherwise protect Social Security & Medicare, & pay for roads & bridges."
Q: Increase taxes on corporations and/or high-income individuals to pay for public services?
Ron DeSantis (R): No. Keep Florida a low-tax state "by opposing tax increases & requiring a supermajority vote in the Legislature to raise taxes."
Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. Increase Florida's corporate tax rate by 2% to generate $1 billion for education funding.
Ron DeSantis (R): No. Opposes recreational use. Will implement will of the voters on medical.
Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. "Legalize it. Tax it. Use the revenues to fix Florida's public schools."
Ron DeSantis (R): No statements found on funding, but prefers setting policy at local level.
Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. Proposes a $1 billion "Fair Share" investment in public schools covered by increasing state's corporate tax rate & legalizing & taxing marijuana.
Q: Education: Support the expansion of charter schools or help parents send their children to private schools with public money?
Ron DeSantis (R): Yes. Expand both charters & vouchers. Let federal dollars follow students to any schools their families choose.
Andrew Gillum (D): No. Against vouchers & "unaccountable, for-profit charter schools who use public dollars to enrich their executives."
Ron DeSantis (R): No statements found on state funding, but more training support for students who enter workforce from high school.
Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. Wants to make college debt-free for professions like nursing & teaching. Also higher pay for adjuncts.
Ron DeSantis (R): Mixed. "I don't know if it's because of my activity, your activity, but.we've got to deal with it."
Andrew Gillum (D): Climate change is a real & urgent threat. Transition Florida to clean energy. "We're going to put science first & work together to not only save our planet but create clean energy jobs along the way."
Q: Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?
DeSantis: No. Voted against any potential carbon tax as negatively impacting economy.
Gillum: Yes. Sees Trump withdrawal from Paris Climate accord as "disturbingly reckless." Join Climate Alliance of states committed to fighting climate change.
Q: Government support for renewable energy?
DeSantis: No. Opposed continued wind energy subsidy, calling it "anti-competitive & economically harmful."
Gillum: Yes. "Transition Florida to clean energy as rapidly as possible." Supported renewables as Tallahassee mayor.
Ron DeSantis (R): Clean the water; build a reservoir to redirect the flow south; seek federal funding to help. Has also criticized the sugar industry and open to more regulation of development that affects runoff.
Andrew Gillum (D): Reverse Rick Scott environmental policies that eased pollution standards; redirect freshwater flow; eliminate the political influence of the sugar industry; work with surrounding communities to deal with potential job loss.
Ron DeSantis (R): No. Cosponsored bill to protect individuals for faith-based noncooperation with gay marriage.
Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. While Tallahassee mayor invited same-sex couples to get married there when refused in other FL counties.
Ron DeSantis (R): Yes. Trump is a master negotiator trying to get concessions.
Andrew Gillum (D): No. "He's threatening Florida's workers, farmers, & companies."
Ron DeSantis (R): No. Solution to gun violence is "'identifying the problem people' rather than enforcing `blanket bans on the rights of law-abiding citizens.'"
Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. Called for additional restrictions after Parkland, like universal background checks & bans on assault weapons & high capacity magazines. Sued by NRA over prohibiting firing weapons in public parks.
Ron DeSantis (R): No. Opposes amendment.
Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. "Floridians who have paid their debts deserve a second chance & should have a voice in our state's future. Our current system is a relic of Jim Crow."
Ron DeSantis (R): Voted to repeal ACA. No FL Medicaid expansion. Says health care isn't a right. The right is to pursue the type of healthcare you want. ObamaCare infringes on that.
Andrew Gillum (D): Support & strengthen ACA, guarantee care for pre-existing conditions, expand Medicaid in Florida. Work toward "Medicare for all."
Ron DeSantis (R): No. Considers DACA unconstitutional. Opposes any path to citizenship.
Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. Can protect national security & "have a secure border without criminalizing" undocumented people. Let them get alternative ID drivers' licenses. Continue in-state tuition.
Ron DeSantis (R): No public statements found.
Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. Supports state $15 minimum wage.
Ron DeSantis (R): No. Obama-era FCC requirement for net neutrality was a "massive power grab."
Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. FCC decision to dismantle was an attack on FL communities & residents.
Gillum, currently the mayor of Tallahassee, has said he is in favor of raising Florida's corporate tax rate from 5.5% to 7.75%, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
He has said those funds would go toward education. [This week, Gillum also] acknowledged that his "Medicare for all" plan would require increasing taxes on corporations.
ANDREW GILLUM: Well, I'll tell you, I'm obviously deeply appreciative of Mr. Soros & Mr. Steyer, both men whom I've known for some time. But the truth is, our campaign was really propped up by a lot of small contributions, including my mother, who was on auto-deduct of $20 a month into our campaign. In the first two days of this general election, our campaign has been buoyed this first week, raising over $2 million--not by big contributions--but by everyday folks sowing a seed into our race. And I honestly think that that is what is going to help us win on November 6th is these everyday folks deciding to sow a seed into this race.
Gillum said that he would "absolutely not raise taxes on everyday working Floridians" to institute the proposal. Pressed on whether wealthier Floridians would see a tax hike, he said corporations would front the plan.
"We will increase taxes for corporations in our state who, right now, just so you are aware, only 3% of companies in the state of Florida pay the corporate tax rate. And that 3% under the Donald Trump tax scam got a windfall of $6.3 billion overnight due to the tax reform that took place in Washington, DC," Gillum said.
"We're not asking for all of it," he continued. "We simply said we believe that we ought to bring a billion of that money back into the state's government because being a cheap-date state has not worked for the state of Florida."
But the way Gillum proposes to raise the extra $1 billion--an increase in the corporate income tax from 5.5 percent to 7.75 percent--would likely be nearly impossible to get through the Legislature. On top of the GOP's antipathy to tax hikes, the state constitution requires a three-fifths vote in each chamber to raise the corporate income tax above 5 percent.
[Republican gubernatorial opponent Ron] DeSantis supports the school-choice policies Florida Republicans have passed in their 20 years in power, specifically, expanding charter-school and voucher programs. DeSantis also wants to "stop Common Core"-- the standards adopted by 45 out of 50 states as a way to improve education--but the steps he'd take to unwind them is unclear.
[Republican gubernatorial opponent Ron] DeSantis supports legislation to allow Floridians with concealed weapons permits to carry guns openly and on college campuses. Bills to allow both have failed in the GOP-controlled Legislature in the last three years.
He has also criticized the gun control measures in the bill passed by lawmakers in response to the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The legislation banned rifle sales to those under 21, prohibited bump stocks and placed a three-day waiting period on all gun sales. The National Rifle Association has given DeSantis an A- grade and Gillum an F.
Much of that platform will be difficult to achieve with a Republican-controlled Legislature, where leaders in the House have rejected Medicaid expansion after protracted battles.
[Republican gubernatorial opponent Ron] DeSantis hasn't laid out a specific platform on health care and has said little about health care policy. His issues page on his website, which was published a week before the primary, doesn't include the subject. In a debate with GOP primary opponent Adam Putnam, he indicated health care wasn't a right.
DeSantis fully backs President Donald Trump's moves to enforce border security and deport illegal immigrants. As governor, DeSantis has promised to ban "sanctuary cities" even though virtually no city in Florida has such policies.
One of Gillum's campaign ads called for abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, but he would have no power to enact such a policy as governor.
Gillum slammed Trump's move to restrict federal grants to sanctuary cities in January 2017, saying it was "inconsistent with our highest values" and "we can protect our national security interests and have a secure border without criminalizing people who are here undocumented."
GILLUM: Florida's tax structure has meant that while working families pay their fair share, the richest corporations pay little or nothing towards our state's prosperity. Ninety percent of Florida businesses pay no corporate income tax, and those that do pay too little.
Our corporate tax rate is lower than bordering states like Georgia and Alabama. My "Fair Share for Florida's Future" plan will adjust the state's corporate tax rate from 5.5 percent to 7.75 percent, a rate competitive with neighboring states. This will generate at least $1 billion for investment into our state's most worthy priorities--because I don't believe we become a great place to do business by being the cheapest date.
We'll attract more top-tier companies by investing in our workforce and a strong quality of life for their employees like better schools and highways.
GILLUM: The high-stakes testing regime, implemented through Florida's failed education reforms, has let down our state's children, parents, and teachers. Our current system demonizes our teachers, instead of supporting their work to mold, shape, and educate humanity. Our education system doesn't prepare children from the earliest stages-- 100% of our state's children should be reading at grade level. Testing and teaching to the test doesn't show us what our kids know, just how well they test. As Governor, I'll ensure a culture of accountability that views assessments as a data point, instead of the single, punitive arbiter of student, teacher, and school success.
GILLUM: While we're all proud to see many of Florida's universities rising in national rankings, some disparities exist in how we allocate resources among our institutions of higher learning. The current funding system unfairly punishes several universities, including our state's only institution dedicated to educating people of color. All state universities should have improvements measured against their own performance, not by a one-size-fits-all formula that harms those universities' students and teachers. I also believe that anyone willing to commit four years of employment in our state should be able to achieve a debt-free college education.
GILLUM: Rick Scott has been an unmitigated disaster for Florida's environment and energy innovation. Florida is the Sunshine State--that means we should be the world leader in solar energy production. Unfortunately, while our state ranks third among U.S. states for rooftop solar potential, we're only 12th for cumulative installed solar capacity. As Governor, I'll establish a renewable energy portfolio standard that harnesses all of our potential energy sources, including biomass, wind, solar, and other technologies. I'll reinvest in the solar energy rebate program that incentivized residential solar installation and created good, clean energy jobs that can't be outsourced.
GILLUM: Our unique waterways are just too important to allow both pollution and inaction to run rampant. As Governor, I'll demand that Florida Forever is properly funded at its original levels, ensure that the Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir, filtration marshes, and water restoration projects are done right-- not done with big industries in mind--I'll make sure that our nutrient standards are strictly enforced, and I'll insist that our utilities commit to the energy efficiency and conservation measures that state law requires them to.
GILLUM: I don't believe we'll be able to asphalt our way out of Florida's future transportation needs. We need a wholesale shift in thinking when it comes to moving people across our cities and state, including a greater emphasis on light rail and mass transit powered by clean energy sources. Unlike Rick Scott, I'll never turn down federal funding to improve our state's transportation options. While autonomous vehicles offer a glimpse at our transportation future, we need to take a cautious approach that doesn't risk the lives of innocent Floridians.
GILLUM: Nearly half of Florida's families struggle to make ends meet. I know what it's like to have your parents choose which bills to pay before services get cut off. Our state's devastating income inequality forces families to live paycheck to paycheck, because our economy isn't built for everyone to succeed.
As Mayor, I've presided over Florida's fastest-growing local economy, Pres. Obama named Tallahassee a TechHire city for our commitment to training workers, and we eliminated our local business tax, saving businesses $2 million annually.
I believe the way forward for Florida's economy starts with ensuring workers get the vocational and technical training they need for good jobs, attracting those good jobs by investing in our state's schools and infrastructure, and embracing technology--from ride-sharing and home-sharing to renewable energy production--that will remake Florida into an innovation economy that works for all.
A: Support--When Governor Rick Scott and the Republican legislature tried to defund Planned Parenthood, Andrew called them out for jeopardizing women's health with ideological games. As Governor, Andrew will stop the Legislature from using women's health as a political football. Andrew trusts women to make their own healthcare decisions with their doctor-- not politicians--and he will oppose any attempt to make it harder for women to access quality healthcare.
A: Agree--Mayor Gillum supports the Obama Administration's actions to save our economy from the reckless Wall Street behavior that wrecked our economy.
A: Despite the tremendous victory for equal rights that was achieved when the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage a constitutional right in the United States, there still remains much work ahead to advance equality for LGBT Floridians. In Florida, gay, lesbian, and bisexual citizens may not be protected from discrimination in public or in the workplace from one county to the next. Transgender Floridians may not have the right to use the restrooms that align with their gender identity depending on the community in which they find themselves. As Governor, Andrew will work to address these issues through statewide policies that ensure equal treatment and equal rights for all Floridians from every corner of our state.
A: Strongly Support--Andrew has always been a staunch supporter of LGBT rights during his years as a public leader. As a City Commissioner, Gillum led the charge to expand domestic partner health benefits from City employees. As Mayor, when at least a dozen Florida counties were refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Florida, Gillum extended an invitation for couples to get married in Florida's Capital City.
A: Strongly Oppose
A: Oppose--Mayor Gillum believes that we need to legalize marijuana and end the harsh penalties for low-level possession. He wants to invest that revenue in our public schools, students, and teachers, including a pay raise for all public school teachers and staff.
A: Oppose
A: Strongly Support--Andrew believes that the best way to address the impacts of climate change is to embrace a plan to transition Florida to clean energy as rapidly as possible. Andrew believes that climate change is a real and urgent threat and that politicians, like Donald Trump, who call it a "hoax," and Governor Rick Scott, who banned the words "climate change" and "global warming," are putting us and future generations of Floridians at risk. These politicians have failed take climate change action, even as Florida has the most property at-risk in the nation. Not only does lack of action threaten the future of the planet, it also ignores an enormous economic opportunity to make the U.S. the world's leader in clean energy and to put people to work at every rung of the income ladder.
A: Strongly Oppose--Andrew is deeply concerned with the Republicans' assault on the EPA and its critical role of protecting our children and families from toxic pollution.
Q: How do you apply that to state issues instead of the federal EPA?
A: As Governor, Andrew will take on the challenge of rebuilding Florida into a more resilient state and protecting our natural resources that make Florida the nation's number one tourist destination. Andrew will make protecting the Everglades a priority, work to keep our water clean from toxic algae blooms, and fight to protect Florida's access to clean water sources.
A: Support
A: Support with Restrictions--Mayor Gillum supports trade policies that protect workers here at home and expand markets for Florida's products abroad. He believes in strict labor fairness practices so that workers are not being exploited.
A: Support--Andrew believes that we need to tear down the barriers that prevent citizens from exercising their right to vote.
A: Strongly Oppose--Andrew believes that those domestic abusers and those struggling with mental illness should not own guns.
As Governor, Andrew will work to expand Medicaid and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. Andrew has proposed passing a Florida law protecting people with pre-existing conditions from being denied coverage, being charged more for their care due to a pre-existing condition, or women being charged more than men. As Governor, Andrew will restore Floridians' healthcare security--the knowledge that if something horrible happens to a loved one that they'll be taken care of. If they were born with a genetic disorder or chronic illness, that they won't be denied coverage, or face the inhumane choice between bankruptcy or healthcare.
A: Strongly Support--As Governor, Andrew will work to expand Medicaid and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. Andrew believes that healthcare should be a fundamental right, not a privilege. Floridians struggle everyday to keep themselves and their families from going bankrupt due to the cost of healthcare. Andrew believes that Senator Sanders' Medicare for All plan will help lower costs and expand coverage to more Floridians.
A: Oppose
A: Strongly Support--As Governor, Andrew will continue to fight mass deportation policies that threaten to split families and hurt Florida's economy.
A: Strongly Support
A: Support
A: Strongly Oppose--Andrew will fight any attempt to privatize Social Security, which is a bedrock guarantee for millions of Florida seniors.
A: Support--Andrew believes creating an economy that works for all Floridians, instead of just those at the top, should be an imperative. Creating an economy that works for all Floridians, instead of just those at the top, should be an imperative. Florida has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the country with the top 1% receiving over 30 times more than the bottom 99%. This inequality hurts our economic growth and stifles opportunities for Floridians to join the middle class and achieve the American Dream. Nearly half of Florida households struggle to make ends meet.
A: Oppose--Andrew believes America must play a pre-eminent role in the world by being a human rights champion. Under President Trump, we are failing that test.
Our Revolution's president said "Andrew Gillum has fought tirelessly for reforms like expanding social service funding, developing an advanced job retraining program for underrepresented workers, and investing in community policing and re-entry programs."
Gillum is running for governor as a proud progressive candidate. As mayor, he implemented a ban the box policy to help returning citizens get jobs [ex-offenders are not asked arrest history on employment applications], stood up to attacks on immigrant communities, and worked to reduce Tallahassee's carbon emission intensity.
There still remains much work ahead to advance equality for LGBT Floridians. In Florida, gay, lesbian, and bisexual citizens may not be protected from discrimination in public or in the workplace from one county to the next. Transgender Floridians may not have the right to use the restrooms that align with their gender identity depending on the community in which they find themselves.
As Governor, Andrew will work to address these issues through statewide policies that ensure equal treatment and equal rights for all Floridians from every corner of our state
Tallahassee has reduced its carbon emission intensity by 40%, and under Mayor Gillum's leadership, has reduced the carbon footprint of electricity users in the city by 20%. The Mayor has worked to implement and improve programs like free residential and commercial audits, low interest energy loans, and community outreach programs, as well breaking ground on the new 120 acre solar farm that will triple the City's solar energy capacity.
Andrew believes that the best way to address the impacts of climate change is to embrace a plan to transition Florida to clean energy as rapidly as possible. Achieving this goal will put us on a path to a completely clean energy economy, create thousands of new jobs in Florida, and create cleaner air and healthier families.
This approach will sharply reduce toxic pollutants like carbon, mercury and sulfur dioxide. As Governor, Andrew will take on the challenge of rebuilding Florida into a more resilient state and protecting our natural resources that make Florida the nation's number one tourist destination. Andrew will make protecting the Everglades a priority, work to keep our water clean from toxic algae blooms, and fight to protect Florida's access to clean water sources.
TrumpCare is nothing more than a tax cut for millionaires that cuts healthcare for millions and raises costs on everyone else. Here in Florida, we never received the opportunity to benefit from the full impact the Affordable Care Act, because Gov. Scott refused to extend Medicaid to over one million Floridians. Andrew will work to expand Medicaid and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. Andrew has proposed passing a Florida law protecting people with pre-existing conditions from being denied coverage, being charged more for their care due to a pre-existing condition, or women being charged more than men.
The move also would open up the mayor's seat in 2018, which could prompt many mayoral hopefuls to run for the post.
Gillum said during his announcement call that he had a "clear and authentic voice" and an agenda that would appeal to voters. "It's important to get out there and tell our story," he said. "I am jazzed up. It might be naivete about what's around the bend."
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The above quotations are from 2018 Florida Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
Click here for other excerpts from 2018 Florida Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts by Andrew Gillum. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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