Florida Senate District 23: Robert Kaplan

Name: Robert Samuel Kaplan

Age: 65

Family: Son of Samuel E. Kaplan, M.D. and Sarah G. Kaplan, R.N.

Bio: Independent candidate for State Senate District 23 for Florida

Why are you running for office?

To control spending, to protect jobs and to protect Medicare and Medicaid.

What are three priorities you hope to accomplish if elected?

Saving water quality, Medicare and Medicaid, and jobs

With Florida revenues expected to finish the year at $1.6 billion below expectations:

What budget cuts would you propose? / What would be your position on raising taxes to close any gap? / We need to protect these three important entities during this horrific period without raising taxes. Because the state Legislatures do not want to fix the budget cuts till after the election, due to COVID-19, the Legislatures will cripple the budget. I would not touch any moneys until COVID-19 dissipates. Therefore, no other moneys cannot be spent, and I would not raise any taxes to close any gap.

What’s your position on calls for the state to expand its Medicaid spending?

I am for Medicaid expansion. My plan people over 50 who cannot work anymore, semi-retired, and live on a fixed income should be on Medicare and Medicaid. That would have been the single-payer plan for Florida. 

How would you rate Florida’s public education funding: too little, just right, too much? What would you change?

Find a way to lower the high cost of tuition. Let's place a cap on education as I want to see education lowered back to 2006 for starters because it was affordable back then. 

Florida's public education funding is too much because we have to pay taxes on chartered schools also. I would bring back the brighter funds to help with public education funding. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis made the environment a top priority when elected, committing to spend/invest $2.5 billion during his term to help clean up and protect Florida’s water systems. How would you describe your position toward this spending?

Our governor has spent $2.5 billion on Florida Water's system. We still have problems with red tide and green algae blooms. If we cannot control red tide and green algae blooms and the virus at the same time, we will be in deep trouble after hurricane season is over. Because of this, I fear another loss of jobs. My suggestion back in 2018 was to fix Lake Okeechobee Dam first. They are still having problems because of high sea levels. They still not have fixed the dam. 

Visit Florida’s budget went from $76 million to $50 million in the last legislative session. Given the pandemic and its effects on Florida tourism, what would you propose in the next session?

The virus, red tide and algae blooms are the main contributors for loss of jobs, and Florida tourism took a beating during the virus. I would propose controlling jobs first. Let small businesses hire as they are the backbone for creating jobs. We already have surpassed deficit spending, and I say keep the $50 million on hold for emergencies, so we can reopen Florida again.

The November ballot will have an amendment to require a $15 minimum wage by 2026, increasing by inflation every year after. What’s your position on the minimum wage?

I voted for the amendment till 2026 to ensure everyone receives $15 an hour. But I feel people should receive $15 minimum wage this election year. 

For the past three years, the issue of who should regulate short-term residential rentals has come before the Legislature. What’s your position: Should the state or local governments regulate them? Why?

I do believe state or local government should not regulate the rentals. Home rule should have never been gutted. Home rule protected the rents to go up. In other words, lower rent income. 

State funding for the arts increased from $2.6 million two years ago to $21.2 million in the most recent session. Arts groups requested $62 million. What’s your position on state taxpayers funding the arts? And if you support it, how much should they get?

Funding the arts is very important to me. They never receive proper funding. This is where the public/private sector comes into play. Because the virus is still crippling Florida and until the arts are back in business, let's place the $62 million on reserve until it is OK to fund them when they reopen the arts. 

Florida’s unemployment insurance compensation system was roundly criticized during the pandemic. It pays one of the lowest amounts in the nation — a maximum of $275 per week for 12 weeks. Should that be changed, and if so, to what? Why?

Yes, this should be changed. I would say $500 until the virus is under control.