U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., doubled down on his support for the economic agenda pushed by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
While he built a reputation as something of a moderate on economic issues during his tenure in Tallahassee--even winning the endorsements of some members of the business community when he ran for the state Senate against Republican candidate attorney Will McBride--Soto reiterated his support for Schumer’s and Pelosi’s “Better Deal” which was unveiled last month.
On Tuesday, Soto went to bat for the “Better Deal” in a piece published in The Hill in which he argued the Democrats’ economic agenda will help Americans.
“With Hurricane Trump wreaking havoc on our nation, this jobs agenda comes not a moment too soon. But as we expand upon our message, the time has come for us to be bold!” Soto wrote. “We must think beyond the present, conventional debate, beyond the next election cycle, and set our sights upon the future. We must present solutions not only to meet the greatest challenges of our times, but put forth an agenda that looks to decades beyond.”
Soto turned his attention to various sectors of the economy, including calling for “generating 100 percent of our energy on renewable and nuclear power;" making “100 percent of new cars and trucks be electric vehicles” and bringing “commuter rail to every major city and connect major regions through high speed rail."
The Central Florida Democrat also called for tripling the current funding of the National Institute of Health and National Science Foundation, provide “free college, technical or apprenticeship education to every high school graduate who volunteers for the military, peace corps or qualified non-profit for three years” and making sure “every grade student gets a tablet or computer to learn on, require K-12 computer science and coding, and produce millions of new computer programmers and engineers." Soto also called for sending astronauts “to Mars and beyond” and creating a “permanent human presence on the Moon.”
“These goals are audacious, will require a huge concerted effort and resources of epic proportions,” Soto wrote in conclusion. “They will also create millions of better jobs with better wages along with new innovative technologies. And I believe that Americans are ready to be inspired. We must only have the courage and vision to show the way.”
Only 39, Soto has been quickly moving up the Democratic ranks since winning a seat in the Florida House in 2007. After three terms in the House and four years in the Senate, Soto ran for an open congressional seat, besting major candidates Susannah Randolph and Dena Grayson in the primary and beating his Republican Wayne Liebnitzky by 15 percent in November.
Soto’s district, which includes all of Osceola County and parts of Orange and Polk Counties, is generally considered solid for the Democrats.
