Promotion of an open government that is responsive to the people of the state.

Florida Constitution
Support of basic law that assures a government responsive and accountable to the people of the state.

Finance and Taxation
Support of a state fiscal structure that is equitable in its distribution of the tax responsibility and responsive to public needs.

Election Laws
Support of measures to protect, extend and encourage the use of the franchise and to advocate fair methods of financing political campaigns.

Study: Whether open primaries would encourage the use of the franchise.

Support of a free public school system for Florida with high standards for student achievement and with equality of educational opportunity for all that is financed adequately by the state through an equitable funding formula.

Support of education governance policies that Increase professionalism and remove politics from the selection and election processes at both state and district levels and allow for more local control at the individual school site, with improved student performance as the highest priority.

Support of high standards for teacher certification and compensation; increased professionalism for teachers and administrators.

Support expanded public school parental choice under controlled conditions determined by each school district.

Evaluate: Present application of student tests to determine support for single, dual vs multiple standards of measure used for pupil progression and rating of schools.

Support of a judicial system that provides a unified court structure, improved provisions for judicial selection and merit retention and equal access to legal services. Support of a criminal justice system that emphasizes rehabilitation and alternatives to incarceration.

Issues for Action:
* Judical Independence

Juvenile Justice
Support of a juvenile justice system that encourages prevention and diversion and recognizes the special concerns of children and their families.

Promote social and economic justice, secure equal rights for all, achieve universal health care coverage at reasonable cost, promote the well-being of children and combat discrimination, poverty and violence.

Issue for Action: Equal Rights Amendment

Children and Families
Support of measures to meet special concerns of children and families, including countering intrafamily abuse and providing for safe foster care and shelter care.

Farmworkers
Support of measures to provide adequate living and working conditions for farmworkers.

Financing and Delivery of Health Care
Support measures to implement Florida health care reform in a manner consistent with the LWVUS positions on health care reform.

Immigration
Support the rights of legal immigrants to prevention or reduction of poverty, a minimum basic level of health care at affordable cost, the well-being of children and families and access to free public schools with federal and state financial assistance to communities disproportionately impacted by immigration.

Libraries
Support of full funding of eligible public library systems as provided in Section 257.17 Florida Statutes.

Handgun Control
Support of regulations concerning the purchase, ownership and use of handguns that balance as nearly as possible individual constitutional rights with the general interest and welfare of the commnty. (LWVF)

Protect the health and safety of citiaizens trough limiting he accessibilit and regulating the ownership of handgusns and semi-automatic weapons.

Support regulation of firearms for consumer safethy. (LWVUS)

Support of governmental action that results in sustainabiliy: Meeting the needs of the present without endangering the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Environment, society and the economy must be integrated and balanced to achieve a sustainable Florida.

Promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources in the public interest by recognizing the interrelationship of air quality, energy, land use, waste management and water resources.

Land Use
Support public policies that provide for cooperative, coordinated planning for and decisions about land use in Florida including methods for resolution of conflicts.

Freshwater Resources
Support public policies that promote conservation of freshwater and its availability for environmental, public supply, agricultural, industrial and mining uses on a priority basis.

Coastal Management
Support intergovernmental stewardship of and fiscal responsibility for the Florida coast, under the management of the state, while recognizing the dominance of nature and the role of the sand transport system.

Environmental Protection and Pollution Control
Preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystem, with maximum protection of public health and the environment. (LWVUS)

Public Particiption
Promote public understanding and participation in decision making as essential elements of responsible and responsive management of our natural resources. (LWVUS)