U.S. House of Representatives District 16: Margaret Good

Name: Margaret Good

Age: N/A

Family: N/A

Bio: N/A

Why do you want to serve in Congress? 

I am running because I believe we deserve a representative who shows up for the people they represent and one who does the hard work to solve the issues that are important to our community. In the state Legislature, I did just that. I worked across the aisle to get legislation passed to require updating of our stormwater rules that will have a great impact on our water quality. I advocated for public education and worked to find ways to make health care more affordable. I would be honored if you would vote for me in November. 

How would you describe your political philosophy, and what is the essential role of the federal government? 

I will work with anyone to get things done and, as a state legislator, have frequently worked across the aisle on issues including the environment and health care. During 2018, Sen. Joe Gruters and I held a joint town hall to discuss water quality issues with our constituents. After that event, we worked together to pass bipartisan legislation to update our stormwater rules. As ranking member of the Health Market Reform subcommittee, I co-sponsored legislation to bring transparency to prescription drug pricing. 

In general, do you believe Americans should pay more in federal taxes? Why or why not? 

Our tax code has too many provisions that benefit special interests and large corporations. I believe that we need a fairer tax code that provides relief for middle class families. 

What specific legislation, if any, would you propose to address climate change? 

Here in Florida, we understand the importance of protecting our environment — it’s vital to our economy and our way of life. I have fought corporate polluters to ensure Floridians have access to clean water, and I’ve worked across the aisle to pass laws to require stricter stormwater regulations. I’m proud to be endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club, two of the most prominent environmental protection groups in the nation. They support me because they know I am committed to protecting our environment and enacting smart policies to combat climate change and to promote renewable energy and the jobs that come with it. 

What is your position on a federal-mandated and controlled universal health care system? 

I oppose Medicare for All and support protecting and strengthening the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act has allowed millions of Americans to gain access to high-quality, affordable coverage. We should strengthen it by working to lower out-of-pocket costs, by adding a public health care option that people can buy into and by passing Medicaid expansion in the state of Florida. 

If you had the magic wand, what would you propose to address the status of the 10 million-plus undocumented immigrants in the U.S.?

We have not seen comprehensive immigration reform since Ronald Reagan was president. We are in an increasingly global economy and need real solutions for our workforce. Many have made this a wedge issue to breed fear and hate. That is not how I see it. We have a problem with immigration because our world has changed, but our laws haven’t. We need real reform that secures our borders, offers a path to citizenship and protects DREAMers. 

During George W. Bush’s term, the national debt increased $5.8 trillion; during the Obama administration, it increased $8.6 trillion; in Trump’s first term, $4.4 trillion more was added to the national debt. What’s more, the federal government is expected to generate a $3.3 trillion deficit, thanks in large part to COVID-19. What would you propose to bring the deficit under control and reduce the national debt? Or does that matter? 

I support reducing the national debt by ensuring that we use taxpayer money wisely. The COVID-19 relief legislation is a great example of this. Small businesses are suffering and many are closing. More than a million Floridians have become unemployed through no fault of their own. 

I strongly support relief for small businesses and working families. However, the legislation passed by Congress included billions in tax breaks and loans for the wealthiest Americans. This includes my opponent, the fourth wealthiest member of Congress, who received as much as $7 million in PPP money. Subsidizing those who do not need it is a waste of taxpayer money and a major factor contributing to our national debt. 

We also have two federal departments, the Government Accountability Office and the Congressional budget office that put out dozens of reports a year about how to save money, and Congress ignores a lot of them. One example: We could save nearly a billion dollars just by having a unified contract for the government to purchase cellphone service. Better combining data centers, 3 billion. We could save hundreds of billions by upgrading our computer systems and stop sending out payments to the wrong people. None of this is glamorous, but it adds up to real money quickly. 

What is your position on the federal minimum wage? 

I believe that we need a minimum wage increase but that it might need to vary based on the area — $15 an hour might make sense in some high-cost areas but not in every area. I am also concerned about the impact on small businesses on increasing the minimum wage for small businesses too quickly.