The issues and candidates of the November 2010 midterm elections have left the minds of many Americans. Ad campaigns are no longer seen on television and voting booths are back in storage. Only recently though, have many of the changes voted upon gone into effect.
Rick Scott assumed office as Governor of Florida on January 4 and Marco Rubio was sworn in as a U.S. Senator on January 2. Since then, these politicians have not yet been able to act on many of their platforms.
One decision made by Rick Scott so far involves working with Michelle Rhee, former Chancellor of Washington D.C. Public Schools, to improve Florida’s education system. He has also requested that the U.S. Department of Justice review Amendments 5 and 6 that were passed by voters in November.
“He [Scott] is responsible for the biggest case of health care fraud in U.S. history,” senior Connor Wells said. “The only reason he’s not in prison now is because he bought his way out of the American justice system.”
Although both of these elected officials belong to the Republican Party, AP Government and Economics teacher Dee Dee Reichenbach does not see this as out of the ordinary.
“In the midterm elections, the President’s party usually loses seats,” Reichenbach said. “What’s going on economically decides how people are going to vote. When the economy is going bad, people blame the President because he’s someone people know and can point the blame to.”
This political season, the national census was also taken, which showed that since the 2000 Census, Florida’s population has increased by 17.6%. In the next election, Florida will therefore have two more representatives in the House, bringing the state’s total to 27 Representatives and 29 votes in the Electoral College.
“Our [Florida’s] electoral count will be greater, which will give us more clout in the 2012 Presidential election, so whoever is running, Democratic or Republican, will campaign in Florida more,” Reichenbach said. “Issues like immigration, which affect Florida, Texas, and California, will be discussed more by those candidates.”