Candidate Responses - Adam Hattersley

In addition to answering the 20 survey questions, this candidate provided the following elaboration on several progressive issues.

Seeking a fair, honest, and open government that works for all:

I support overturning Citizens United, and I have pledged to reject all corporate PAC money for my campaign.

Seeking broader rights and better wages for workers:

Simple math indicates that it is impossible to afford basic expenses on minimum wage, much less support a family. In addition to raising the minimum wage, we should implement automatic inflation adjustments. I am open to raising, or potentially eliminating, the cap on social security contributions. I also oppose any efforts to privatize social security. I support the right of all workers to unionize, including allowing workers across multiple employers in a single industry to unionize (for instance, fast food workers at multiple restaurants). My campaign is the only congressional campaign in Florida that has unionized its staff. Universal daycare is essential for both children and parents. It ensures all children have access to necessary early learning, and it gives parents to ability to go to work and support their families.

Seeking to maintain a strong economy:

American leaders should always prioritize creating American jobs. In trade negotiations, the United States should use its influence to negotiate for fair working practices to ensure Americans do not have to compete with cheap, offshore labor. Working Americans pay their fair share of taxes, and corporations should be expected to do the same. I also support efforts to ensure residents of the community impacted by the infrastructure are able to get good jobs through the building projects.

Seeking to provide a quality public education for all children, as guaranteed by our State Constitution:

Ensuring children read at grade level by third grade is essential to their success in school and beyond. Universal Pre-K gives all children the opportunity to access this necessary education. I believe that 2-year community college should be free and that all Americans should be able to attend 4-year college debt free. I believe additional funding and support should be given to technical / vocational training.

Seeking justice and equality for all:

Our corrections system should not be motivated by profit, but instead by prioritizing public safety, rehabilitation, and lower recidivism rates. I am a strong supporter of a woman's right to choose. I was endorsed by Planned Parenthood for my statehouse campaign and have often been the only male legislator at Planned Parenthood events in Tallahassee. I cosponsored the bill to ratify the ERA two years in a row in the Florida House. Now that Virginia has ratified it, I would advocate in Congress for it to be officially adopted in the constitution.

Seeking recognition of the fundamental right to affordable housing, health care and retirement security:

I support universal health coverage for all Americans. I believe the US should adopt an affordable public option for individuals and businesses to buy into, and that low-income individuals should be enrolled cost-free.

Seeking a clean and safe environment:

I support Vice President Biden's plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We must fully fund the EPA and give them the regulatory "teeth" they need to enforce environmental policy.

Seeking a peaceful and secure world:

One of the most important roles of the next democratic administration will be restoring America's reputation on the global scale. I will support investment in diplomacy to achieve that.