Keith's Journal

In the recently completed special session, Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul, Senate Leader Jeff Atwater, and the Republican-led Legislature failed the people of Florida. After a partisan vote, the Florida House adjourned in just under an hour with no action taken to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to permanently ban drilling in Florida waters. The Florida Senate adjourned shortly thereafter.

This was a cynical political move that let the people of Florida down. Floridians deserved a vote on the issue of permanently banning drilling off the coast. Today, politics trumped the will of the people.

When Rep. Rick Kriseman and I first called for this session in May, we weren’t thinking about politics or campaigns – we were thinking about our treasured Florida coastline. We were thinking about the thousands of businesses up and down the coast who have already been affected by the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe and we wanted to give the people a chance to have a voice in shaping Florida’s future.

Some of my colleagues in the legislature claim that in ‘the shadow of a disaster’ is ‘no time to make these kinds of decisions.’ Well, I think it is exactly the time to make those kinds of decisions – I thought it was time to make those kinds of decisions back in May when I urged the governor to call this session.

We had an opportunity to send a signal to small business owners in Florida and to tourists who want to visit some of the best beaches in the nation that we are not an oil state. Instead, the House leadership in the special session not only wasted the time and resources of the legislature by calling us together for less than two hours in total, they also sent a signal to those small businesses and tourists that Big Oil is still king.

There is more work to be done to make the communities hurt by the oil spill whole again. I pledge that I will continue to work constructively toward that goal. This is a catastrophe that calls for leadership. I will do my best to keep politics out of this and focus on practical measures to make the situation better.

As Bridget and Conor started school this week, I have spent a lot of time thinking about children across Florida who will load their backpacks with books, board bright yellow buses, and make their way back to the classroom. More than 42,000 eager students will return to school, ready to discover a remarkable world filled with knowledge and wisdom. But all is not well with the Florida school system.

Join me on the campaign trail and when we meet a teacher, ask them what they think of the FCAT. The focus on these tests has severely constrained teachers' ability to teach and respond appropriately to student needs. That hurts teachers and it ill-prepares our students to compete in an increasingly competitive world. The state legislature did some work on this in the 2008 session - but much more needs to be done.

We recently heard news about declining ACT scores and once again Florida is ranked near the bottom - just 48th nationally. This is a disgrace. We should take the advice of our Education Commissioner and ensure schools have enough emphasis on tougher coursework. It is time to make it the business of schools to educate our children for a lifetime, not just test for passage to the next grade.

During my time in the state legislature and out on the campaign trail, I have met teachers who have to hold down a second job because being a teacher in Florida simply does not pay enough. A public school teacher in Florida today earns $6,000 less than the national average. This is an insult to the professionals who teach our children. It is also irresponsible policy. We know that the best teachers produce the best students - and all of us should want that for Florida's future.

Floridians have a lot to be proud of, but the state of our educational system is not one of them. I am passionate about this issue - and not just because it affects the quality of education my children will receive. We need to build a world-class education system so that Florida can remain competitive in the 21st century and beyond.

I wanted to take a moment to provide my constituents with an update on the John Ringling
Bridge issue.

I understand the confusion and concern that many have expressed regarding the name of the Ringling Causeway Bridge and the recent City Commission action. I want to make it clear that the state legislature in no way altered the official name of the road or bridge. My aim was simply to help recognize a local leader by having an honorary sign placed on or near the bridge commemorating his work. By no means did I intend to rename any road or bridge, and certainly not one with such significance to our community.

I have been in touch with the Florida Department of Transportation and have worked out a resolution that will allow a plaque to be placed on the bridge in lieu of the honorary designation sign in order to alleviate any confusion over the name of the bridge.

The level of civic engagement that has been evident throughout this process has made me even prouder to be a part of the Sarasota community. I regret that the confusion may have caused undue anxiety for many residents, but I am confident that this arrangement will satisfy everyone involved.

When I first ran for the State House in 2006, I said that we need leaders today who are not about currying the favor of lobbyists or the powerful. That's still true, and it is why I am seeking re-election. The hyper-partisan process in Tallahassee has failed. Families in Florida – like my family and yours – are hurting and are demanding action. It is time for pragmatic, principled leadership.

There is a growing online community that wants the power of government out of the hands of narrow, special interests and back in the hands of those who will fight for the interests of our working families and citizens. They want action now.

I am proud that GoFitzGo.com is a part of this community.

Through this site, I hope you will take action – sign up for to volunteer, request a yard sign, sign up for regular updates, or donate.

I also hope that you will contact me. Only by working together – online or in our communities and neighborhoods – can we bring the change that government so desperately needs.

Please visit again soon. We will be updating our campaign journal, as well as our news and events pages often.

I am honored to serve the people of State House District 69 and look forward to our continued partnership as we work together to build a stronger Florida.