Forward is committed to allowing candidates to formulate positions on all issues without adhering to a party platform or litmus tests. We also are committed to improving the incentives that drive the integrity of elections and governance. Our Legislative Agenda, then, focuses on bills before the Florida Legislature that may enhance or detract from these incentives. We will advocate for the support of or opposition to such bills. Individual Forwardists may hold a different view which, of course, we will respect.
The Florida Forward Party supports SB 588, which will discourage politicians and their teams from sending us unwanted texts and calls once we have told them to stop. Under the bill, candidates or campaigns that ignore “opt outs” pay expenses a person incurs to force the offenders to stop.
The Forward Party is all for voter outreach in many forms – we use text and email messaging regularly. Still, bombarding people with unwanted “junk” texts and calls repels many people from what should be healthy political dialog. Once someone opts out, that must be respected. We need more tools – like this bill – to ensure our reasonable preferences are adhered to.
Not left, not right, Forward!
Find Your Legislator
Find Your State Representative
Suggested Comments for Legislators and Letters to the Editor
- Please support SB 588. Whatever we can do to reduce the garbage texts and calls I receive, the better. Thank you.
- Anyone with a smartphone knows the irritation of unending, unwanted texts from politicians, many of whom I have never heard of. SB 588 may not go far enough, but it is better than nothing.
- Returning some civility to our political dialog would be nice. We can start by ending the disrespect inherent in text bombardments from politicians. SB 588 can only help.
- The only reason someone would be against SB 588 is if they take a percentage of the money raised by those aggravating texts! Pass SB 588! Pass SB 588!
- I have stopped giving money to politicians because it triggers a blizzard of texts and emails from all of their buddies asking for money. SB 588 won’t end the pain, but it will make me feel a little better.
Suggested Comments for Friends and Social Media Posts
We all know how irritating it is to get dozens (hundreds?) of texts from politicians asking for money. The good news is that the Legislature is considering a bill that might make things a little better.
Senate Bill 588 would subject candidates and campaigns that ignore an “opt out” request to pay legal fees when they get sued to stop. If I had my druthers, it would cost them more than that, but this is a good start.
I reached out to my state Representative and Senator told them I am for SB 588. Please do the same. And spread the word!
