State of Florida Archives: on Technology
Adam Putnam:
Get Fed money for infrastructure for roads
Congestion is a statewide impact, Putnam noted, along with lack of infrastructure.These issues affect commuters, but they also affect businesses reliant on infrastructure to make their margins.
Putnam speculated on a big federal infrastructure bill, urging that "Florida gets its fair share," and adding that there is "no better time than to be investing in infrastructure projects."
Source: FloridaPolitics.com on 2018 Florida gubernatorial race
Dec 15, 2016
Al Franken:
21st-century communication methods helped win recount
Norm Coleman was in the house--the criminal defense lawyer [in him liked being] there for the judges to see. They did notice him. Looking around the courtroom, he didn't see Franken on this day, or ever. Franken was briefed nightly by his lawyers.
Over time, being absent from the trial seemed more senatorial than being present.As Coleman looked around the courtroom, he should have noticed something more troubling than a missing Al Franken.
Franken's counsel table was filled with three laptops, all fitted with wireless Internet antennae. Franken's lawyers were wired to each other, and to Franken headquarters. Through e-mails and instant messaging, the lawyers at the table received and sent
suggestions. At Coleman's legal table, only 20th-century yellow legal pads were in use. It was a precursor of a technological deficit that was going to turn day one of this trial into a disaster for Coleman and his lawyers.
Source: This Is Not Florida, by Jay Weiner, p.174
Sep 16, 2010
Al Lawson:
Investing in infrastructure is investing in America's future
Infrastructure: Investing in infrastructure is investing in America's future. If you go across North Florida you see highways, bridges, and ports that have been crumbling for decades.
One example is the large amount of potholes in our communities. We need to reinvest, rebuild, and reconnect America to our globalized society.
Source: 2016 Florida House campaign website AlLawson.com
Nov 8, 2016
Andrew Gillum:
Digital Harmony Project: computers & internet for schoolkids
Gillum was responsible for a number of community enrichment projects during his eleven years as a city commissioner. The Digital Harmony Project is an initiative championed by Gillum with support from the City of Tallahassee, local businesses
and technology partnerships. Digital Harmony won the Significant Achievement Award in the Web & e-Government Services category from the Public Technology Institute. For the first two years, it provided every incoming
Nims Middle School sixth and seventh-grader with a new desktop computer, free internet access and online academic curriculum training on core subjects. The school holds ongoing training courses for parents and students on basic
computer skills and school curriculum. This effort places 200 computers into the homes of Nims Middle School students.
Source: Wikipedia summary for 2018 Florida Gubernatorial race
Mar 11, 2017
Andrew Gillum:
Greater emphasis on light rail and mass transit
Question: How would you improve transportation, and what emphasis would you place on investing in mass transit and new technology such as driverless vehicles?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.
Source: Miami Herald on 2018 Florida Gubernatorial race
Aug 12, 2018
Andrew Gillum:
Net neutrality protected FL communities & residents
Q: Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all users?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.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Florida Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Augustus Invictus:
Subsidies to ISPs are the internet's real problem
Augustus Invictus is against Net Neutrality and FCC Regulation of the internet. Invictus sees the problem as not the lack of regulation, but the massive subsidies to ISPs that only form monopolies in technology.
Invictus believes in a free internet without government regulation; one will not have to worry about their freedom of speech and expression with his voice in the Senate floor.
Source: LibertyHangout.org on 2016 Florida Senate race
May 28, 2016
Brian Mast:
100% against All Aboard Florida: no more trains
I am 100% against All Aboard Florida. This is a vitally important issue in our community, as the train routes go right through the heart of our district. It would bring down property values, disrupt emergency responders, and
with so many more proposed train routes, it's going to put our children going to and from school in increased danger. Our town is against it, our environment is against it, and I'm against it.
Source: 2016 Florida House campaign website MastForCongress.com
Nov 8, 2016
Hillary Clinton:
Train teachers to use technology in classrooms
The federal government [should] expand resources for high quality professional development opportunities, including more specialized training to use technology in the classrooms. There are so many of my friends who are teachers that are the
first to admit, like so many of us who are parents, that we cannot keep up with the technology that our children are able to master. And so our teachers need more support and opportunities to do that.
Source: Remarks to NEA in Orlando, Florida
Jul 5, 1999
Jeb Bush:
$24M for X-ray truck inspection & bioterrorism labs
We will enhance our ability to aggressively confront bioterrorism by building new labs that will quickly analyze and respond to terrorist threats.
We also propose nearly $10 million to strengthen our network of truck inspection stations, including the purchase of machines that can provide an X-ray picture of the contents of an entire truck at one time.
We have set aside nearly $4 million to continue to fortify our regional domestic security task forces and fund the statewide domestic security database and training.
Over $14 million is devoted to expand critical laboratory capacity, response capability and staffing for the seven regional disaster areas including Medical Assistance Teams. Let me be clear: we will do all within our means to thwart any terrorist attack
Source: State of the State address to 2002 Florida Legislature
Jan 22, 2002
Jeb Bush:
$100M for Florida Technology Development Initiative
I propose that we dedicate $100 million to create the Florida Technology Development Initiative.
This initiative will build centers of excellence among our universities dedicated to the key research necessary for building our promising technology sectors.
New facilities, laboratories, and endowed academic chairs will be the catalysts for entrepreneurial investment. If we build it, they will come.
If we seize this opportunity, the best and the brightest academics, researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs will call Florida home. And they in turn will help build businesses that will fuel our economy for the next century.
Source: State of the State address to 2002 Florida Legislature
Jan 22, 2002
Jeb Bush:
Increased transportation budget by 96% over 8 years
He promoted business development relentlessly, claiming to have made at least one business location phone call per day. He employed multiple economic development strategies: infrastructure development, locational incentives, entrepreneurial activities.
Source: Aggressive Conservatism in Florida, by Robert Crew, p. 28
Dec 11, 2009
Kendrick Meek:
Build high-speed rail to solve transportation problems
The action started with a question about how the candidates would draft legislation to create more jobs. Meek pushed for tax cuts for the middle class and high-speed rail, arguing building a railway will help create jobs in the state. "Transportation
is a problem no matter where you live in Florida," added Meek. "We have a jobs crisis," countered Greene. "It's not a job problem." The billionaire blamed elected officials, including Meek, for the record high unemployment in the state.
Source: 2010 Florida Dem. Primary Debate, in Sunshine State News
Aug 11, 2010
Marco Rubio:
E-budget website for detailed, issue-level budget
Florida Government Accountability Act- Create and empower a Sunset Advisory Committee to increase the effectiveness of the review process of state agencies and programs
- Policy Choices Should Drive Budget Choices
- Combine fiscal and substantive
committees into a single committee that will develop and fund the most appropriate policy issues for Florida
- Design an e-budget website that will display a detailed, issue-level budget and allow the public to comment on the budget
Source: 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future by Marco Rubio
Nov 1, 2006
Marco Rubio:
Protect against identity theft with privacy opt-in
Protection from Identity Theft- Enhance penalties for identity theft crimes that affect persons sixty-five years or older
- Make any unauthorized possession of another's personal identity information a felony
-
Adopt an "opt in" policy that requires government and business to receive permission from citizens before distributing any of their personal information
Source: 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future by Marco Rubio
Nov 1, 2006
Mike Huckabee:
$150B for highway infrastructure is better stimulus package
If we're going to spend $150 billion [as in Bush's economic stimulus package], I'd like to suggest that maybe we add two lanes of highway from Bangor all the way to Miami on I-95. A third of the United States population lives within 100 miles of that.
This nation's infrastructure is falling apart. And if we built those lanes of highways--with American labor, American steel, American concrete--I believe it would do more to stimulate the economy. And the reason
I say that is because when we were going through a recession in my state, we were in the middle of a billion-dollar highway construction program that brought about 40,000 jobs and brought a billion dollars of capital into the economy.
That's a long- term stimulus package that I think would have more impact on the American long-term future. And it would keep social capital from being wasted, fuel wasted. A lot of people sit around in traffic every day, and we've done nothing about it.
Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida
Jan 24, 2008
Mitt Romney:
Focus manned space program on commercial products
Q: What about the future of manned space flight and NASA? Speaker Gingrich said that by the end of his second term, there would be a permanent base on the moon. Good idea?ROMNEY: That's an enormous expense. And right now I want to be spending money
here. Of course the Florida space coast has been badly hurt and I believe in a very vibrant and strong space program. I'd like to bring in the top professors that relate to space areas and physics, the top people from industry, because
I want to make sure what we're doing in space translates into commercial products. I want to bring in our top military experts on space needs. And I'd like to come together and talk about different options and the cost. I'd like corporate America as well
as the defense network and others that could come together in a partnership basis to create a plan that will keep our space program thriving and growing. I'm not looking for a colony on the moon. I'd rather be rebuilding housing here in the US.
Source: CNN 2012 GOP primary debate on the eve of Florida primary
Jan 26, 2012
Newt Gingrich:
Get an American on the moon before the Chinese get there
Q: [to Romney]: Speaker Gingrich said that by the end of his second term, there would be a permanent base on the moon. Good idea?ROMNEY: That's an enormous expense. And right now I want to be spending money here.
Q: [to Gingrich]:
How do you plan to create a base on the moon in eight years while keeping taxes down?
GINGRICH: You start with the question, do you really believe NASA in its current form is the most effective way of leveraging investment in space? My point is,
I believe by the use of prizes, by the use of incentives, by opening up the space port so that it's available on a ready basis for commercial fight--there are many things you can do to leverage accelerating the development of space. Lindbergh flew to
Paris for a $25,000.00 prize. If we had a handful of serious prizes, you'd see an extraordinary number of people out there trying to get to the moon first. And I'd like to have an American on the moon before the Chinese get there.
Source: CNN 2012 GOP primary debate on the eve of Florida primary
Jan 26, 2012
Newt Gingrich:
6 or 7 private launches every day; permanent moon base
Q: You said that you would support a lunar colony, and that if 13,000 Americans were living there, they would be able to apply for US statehood from the moon?GINGRICH: Look at what John F. Kennedy said in 1961: "We will go to the moon in this decade."
No American had orbited the Earth. The technology didn't exist. And a generation of young people went into science and engineering, and they were tremendously excited. And they had a future. The program I envision would probably end up being 90% private
sector, but it would be based on a desire to get NASA out of the business of trying to run rockets, and to create a system where it's easy for private sector people to be engaged. I want to see us move from one launch occasionally to 6 or 7 launches a
day because so many private enterprises walk up and say, we're prepared to go do it. I do not want to be the country that having gotten to the moon first, turned around and said, it doesn't really matter. I think that is a path of national decline.
Source: CNN 2012 GOP primary debate on the eve of Florida primary
Jan 26, 2012
Nikki Fried:
Protect children from unsafe products, such as social media
I believe we have a responsibility to protect our children from products that are unsafe or harmful--and that includes social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. We need to hold these companies accountable and keep kids safe from content that
is detrimental to their mental health. It is imperative that these companies change their algorithms, so they no longer profit off of manipulating and negatively impacting the well-being of young girls.
Source: FDACS.gov on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Sep 30, 2021
Norm Coleman:
Paper pads to fight Franken's 21st-century communications
Norm Coleman was in the house--the criminal defense lawyer [in him liked being] there for the judges to see. They did notice him. Looking around the courtroom, he didn't see Franken on this day, or ever. Franken was briefed nightly by his lawyers.
Over time, being absent from the trial seemed more senatorial than being present.As Coleman looked around the courtroom, he should have noticed something more troubling than a missing Al Franken.
Franken's counsel table was filled with three laptops, all fitted with wireless Internet antennae. Franken's lawyers were wired to each other, and to Franken headquarters. Through e-mails and instant messaging, the lawyers at the table received and sent
suggestions. At Coleman's legal table, only 20th-century yellow legal pads were in use. It was a precursor of a technological deficit that was going to turn day one of this trial into a disaster for Coleman and his lawyers.
Source: This Is Not Florida, by Jay Weiner, p.174
Sep 16, 2010
Philip Levine:
Infrastructure must be modernized to meet 21st century needs
Philip is all-too-familiar with our state's chronic issues of gridlock and congestion, a huge drag on our economy and a major source of pollution. Philip wants to drive Florida into the 21st century economy and believes we need to connect our
cities with modern transportation methods. High-speed rail, Hyperloop, and other similar initiatives can be a driving force for new jobs and economic advancement throughout Florida.
Source: 2018 Florida Governor campaign website PhilipLevine2018.com
Oct 9, 2018
Rick Santorum:
NASA programs sound good, but we need to cut programs
Q: [to Santorum]: Speaker Gingrich said that by the end of his second term, there would be a permanent base on the moon. Good idea?SANTORUM: I believe America's a frontier nation and obviously the frontier that we're talking about is the next one,
which is space. And that we need to inspire. Space defense is another area which is very, very important. But let's just be honest, we run a $1.2 trillion deficit right now. We're borrowing 40 cents of every dollar. And to go out there and promise new
programs and big ideas, that's a great thing to maybe get votes, but it's not a responsible thing when you have to go out and say that we have to start cutting programs, not talking about how to grow them. We're going to cut programs under my
administration. Spending will go down for four years until we get a balanced budget. And you can't do that by grand schemes. The space program sounds good, but we've got to be responsible in the way we allocate our resources.
Source: CNN 2012 GOP primary debate on the eve of Florida primary
Jan 26, 2012
Ron DeSantis:
FCC requirement for net neutrality was a massive power grab
Q: Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all users?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.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Florida Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Ron DeSantis:
Net neutrality was an FEC massive power grab
Net Neutrality: Require internet providers to provide equal access to all users?DeSantis: No. Obama-era FCC requirement for net neutrality
was a "massive power grab."
Gillum: Yes. FCC decision to dismantle was an attack on FL communities & residents.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Florida Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
Ron DeSantis:
Floridians have a right to control their personal data
Floridians have a right to control their personal data and Big Tech should not be able to make billions of dollars off us without our informed consent. Florida always strongly supports free speech, and we cannot allow the contours of acceptable
speech to be adjudicated by the whims of oligarchs in Silicon Valley. Nor we can allow Floridians to be "de-platformed" or silenced with no means of recourse. This is especially true of those who rely on these technology platforms for their livelihoods.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Florida legislature
Mar 2, 2021
Ron Paul:
Exploring the Moon and Mars are great, if done privately
Q: [to Paul]: Speaker Gingrich said that by the end of his second term, there would be a permanent base on the moon. Good idea?PAUL: I don't think we should go to the moon. I think we maybe should send some politicians up there. In 1962 and studied
aerospace medicine: actually had a daydream about maybe becoming the first physician to go into space. That didn't occur, but the amount of money we spend on space, the only part that I would vote for is for national defense purposes. Not to explore the
moon and go to Mars. I love those ideas. But I also don't like the idea of building government business partnerships. It should be privatized, and the people who work in the industry, if you had that, there would be jobs in aerospace. And I just think
that we don't need a new big program. Health care or something else deserves a lot more priority than going to the moon. Space technology should be followed up to some degree for national defense purposes, but not just for the fun of it or for science.
Source: CNN 2012 GOP primary debate on the eve of Florida primary
Jan 26, 2012
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023