Thank you, Thank you
Thank you to all who voted for me in the primary election for the Florida Senate. I want all whom I communicate with, even those who are not in District 35, to know the pleasure and satisfaction I get from being of service to all the people in this great state.
Winning the primary election with 65% of those who voted is most gratifying. In these challenging times I promise to treat all issues with fairness, understanding, honesty and good judgment.
I ask you to cast one more vote, absentee, early or on election day, November 2nd. I will bring decades of experience back to the Senate. Together, we will work through these troubling times.
Thank you for allowing me to serve you.
Early Voting Information
DADE COUNTY VOTERS
From August 9 through August 22, voters can cast their vote at any one of the 20 Early Voting locations. The 14-day Early Voting period includes weekends and features flexible hours with sites opening as early as 7:00 a.m. and closing as late as 7:00 p.m.
For more information, go to www.miamidade.gov/elections or call 305-499- VOTE (8683).
BROWARD COUNTY VOTERS
From August 9 through August 21, voters can cast their vote at any one of the 11 Early Voting locations. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
For more information and a complete list of polling places go to www.browardsoe.org or call 954-357-7050.
OFF AND RUNNING
In these challenging economic times the public cries out for strong ethical leadership from the people they elect to govern. That is why I have chosen to run for re-election to the Florida Senate. In Miami-Dade county 15 seasoned members of the Florida Legislature will be leaving their posts. Some running for other offices and many term limited. Only one of our Senators will be returning. This leaves a vast lack of experience.
Because of your trust in me, my public service began when I was elected to the House of Representatives in 1974 and then elected to the Florida Senate in 1980, when I was appointed to Chair the Finance, Tax and Claims Committee. Later I was appointed to the Chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee where I assisted in leading the state out of a budgetary crisis.
On
From 1993 to 2002 I served on the Miami-Dade County Commission, presiding as Chairperson for six of those years. I returned to the State Senate in 2002 until 2008.
Professionally, I have been a licensed real estate Broker and investor for 36 years. I have a vast understanding of the day to day problem of the devaluing of property and the effect that it is having on many families in this district.
Condominium Changes Signed by Governor
For high-rises that were facing potentially crippling special assessments for sprinkler retrofits, this bill is literally a lifesaver. Those communities can now determine for themselves, by a majority vote of their membership, whether or not they wish to retrofit with sprinklers.
For other buildings facing costly elevator and hard-wired fire alarm retrofits, they too will now have some breathing room and exemptions in certain cases.
For failed condominium conversion projects, this bill will hopefully encourage investment in these communities.
For condominiums and HOA's struggling with very high delinquencies, this bill will allow them to collect rent from tenants in delinquent units and homes without having to go to court to pursue the appointment of a Receiver.
Condominium boards will now be able to suspend the use and voting rights of those owners who are more than 90 days' delinquent.
Lenders will now have to pay condominium associations the lesser of 12 months past due assessments or 1% of the original mortgage debt for units they foreclose upon. This bill DOUBLES the amount of past due assessments bankers must pay in condominiums while keeping the 1% intact. Under this new scenario, some associations will do significantly better depending on the amount of monthly assessments and the amount of the original mortgage debt for legislators to win over banks.
When re-elected, Gwen Margolis will continue to file legislation to make the banks pay the full maintenance on the condominiums in their foreclosure inventories.
MARGOLIS FIGHTS TO PROTECT THE ELDERLY
Florida takes steps to protect its most vulnerable populations
TALLAHASSEE - Predators on the elderly or disabled adults could see their prison sentences double under legislation passed today by Senator Gwen Margolis (D-Sunny Isles Beach.).
Senate Bill 366 - aggravated abuse of an elderly or disabled adult - will now be a 1st degree felony, resulting in up to 30 years of prison time instead of the current 15 years. The bill also requires law enforcement to complete a training program in the investigation and identification of elder abuse or neglect.
"Criminals with no conscience and no remorse need to know that targeting senior citizens and disabled adults will net them serious prison time," said Margolis. "And the training will be in place so that police officers can better identify abuse and arrest those responsible."
MARGOLIS CONTINUES HER ATTACK ON MORTGAGE FRAUD
Legislation targeting financial scofflaws unanimously passes Senate
TALLAHASSEE -In 2007 Florida ranked first in the nation in occurrences of mortgage fraud and second in foreclosures. Senator Gwen Margolis (D-Sunny Isles Beach) today passed legislation aimed at cracking down on the financial scofflaws profiting at the state's expense.
"Mortgage fraud hurts all Floridians," said Margolis. "Not just the lenders or borrowers caught in the deceptive web, but entire neighborhoods as homes are abandoned because of foreclosures, and the integrity of the financial system as a whole." Last year, 70-80% of the almost 300,000 foreclosures in Florida involved mortgage fraud. Mortgage fraud doesn't only affect one specific property. The deception can cause property values to be inflated and consequently property taxes to be inflated as well.
Senate Bill 1116 (House Bill 743) raises the penalty for involvement in a mortgage fraud scheme from a third degree felony to a second degree felony, expanding on the criminal penalties Senator Margolis passed into law last year. Those found guilty could now face up to 15 years in prison.
The legislation also requires law enforcement agencies to promptly notify county property appraisers when the agency finds probable cause that mortgage fraud or other fraud has inflated or could artificially inflate the value of the property. Based upon a conviction of mortgage fraud or other fraud affecting the value, the property appraiser will now have the ability to reassess all the properties affected by the fraud.
MARGOLIS SPEARHEADS MEASURE TO PREVENT PROPERTY TAX HIKES
Measure will head to ballot next
TALLAHASSEE - Homeowners will be able to make much needed improvements to protect their homes in the event of a hurricane and save money on two fronts under a measure unanimously passed by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission (TBRC) on Thursday.
The Constitutional Proposal, sponsored by Commission Member Senator Gwen Margolis (D-Sunny Isles Beach), will prohibit property appraisers from using any improvements a homeowner makes for strengthening their home to prevent wind damage or the installation of any renewable energy devices to determine the assessed value of a property.
The benefits of this measure will not only prevent property taxes from rising but will help reduce homeowners insurance. "If people know that they can make these improvements to their home and their property taxes won't go up, then more people will make these improvements and insurance prices will drop," said Margolis.
"Florida is giving homeowners tax breaks for making these improvements. If they can save money on energy costs, and save money on homeowners' insurance, there is no reason we should be taking, through higher taxes, those savings away." The measure passed overwhelmingly in the 2008 election.
SENATOR GWEN MARGOLIS SPEARHEADS DRIVE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS
Legislation Ratifying Equal Rights Amendment Will Be Heard In Committee Tomorrow
TALLAHASSEE - In 1776, Abigail Adams in a letter to her husband, John, wrote: "In the new code of laws, remember the ladies and do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands." Yet more than two hundred years after the colonists declared their independence from King George, women in the United States are still attempting to encode in the Constitution their own guarantee of sovereignty.
"It is vital that Florida join the majority of states and send a message to the rest of the world that female citizens should be constitutionally guaranteed equality," said State Senator Gwen Margolis (D-Sunny Isles Beach), who is once again at the forefront of legislative attempts to have Florida ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. "How do we explain to the rest of the world that should a woman win the U.S. Presidency - the top job in this country - we could arguably get away with paying her only 77 cents on the dollar compared to her male predecessor?"
The Equal Rights Amendment, which affirms that both women and men hold equally all of the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, has remained unchanged since 1943: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."
The amendment, for the first time, would guarantee that sex discrimination be subject to the same judicial standards as race discrimination. The ERA has been ratified by thirty-five states thus far; endorsement by thirty-eight states is needed in order to amend the Constitution.
SJR 362- Equal Rights for Men & Women would add Florida to the list of states backing the constitutional amendment.
Senator Margolis, who previously served as the first female Senate President and as Miami-Dade County Commission Chairwoman, has worked tirelessly for the ERAs passage since her return to the upper chamber in 2002.
LEGISLATION TO COMBAT THE GROWING OBESITY PROBLEM AMONG THE STATE'S CHILDREN
TALLAHASSEE - Arts and other school electives should not be pitted against physical education in Florida's schools.
That was the message Wednesday of Senator Gwen Margolis (D-Aventura) who is sponsoring legislation to combat the growing obesity problem among the state's children.
"In the last thirty years, the number of overweight children has doubled, and the number of overweight adolescents tripled," said Sen. Margolis. "For the first time, children under 20 are not expected to outlive their parents' life expectancies. This legislation is not a physical education mandate. It's a health mandate to improve the outlook for the next generation."
Margolis said she was alarmed by disinformation which suggested certain school electives such as art or music would be sacrificed in order to implement physical education classes in grades K through 12 grades. "Nothing could be further from the truth," she said. "All of these things round out children. But if a child is sick, he can't do music. If a child is sick, she can't do art."
A BILL PROHIBITING THE SALE OF OVER-THE-COUNTER DIET PILLS TO MINORS WILL SOON BECOME LAW
TALLAHASSEE - Legislation banning the sale of over-the-counter diet pills containing ephedra, ephedra alkaloids and Sida Cordefelia to minors unanimously passed the Senate and was Sponsored by State Senator Gwen Margolis (D- Miami) and Representative Yolly Roberson (D-Miami).
"After reading about the effects of diet pills on children, there was no doubt in my mind that something had to be done," said Margolis. "This bill is a first step in what I hope will be more comprehensive reform in the area of nonprescription weight loss pills."
Currently there is no legislation addressing the harmful effects of diet pills on minors, although California has banned the sale of products containing ephedra to minors.
Legislation passed today attempts to regulate the use and abuse of non-prescription weight loss pills by minors, a problem that concerns organizations such as the Florida Dietetic Association & the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association. Supplements containing ephedra were singled out due to the recent death of Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler after taking an over-the-counter weight loss supplement containing ephedra. Commissioner Charles Bronson & the Florida Department of Agriculture have expressed concern over products containing ephedra and have lent their support in drafting substantive legislation.
Senator Margolis and Representative Roberson thank their colleagues and constituents for voicing their support.
JEWISH HISTORY MONTH BILL BECOMES LAW
State Senator Gwen Margolis (D- Miami) is pleased to announce that a bill designating January as Florida's Jewish History Month, was signed into law by Governor Jeb Bush on April 17, 2003.
This law commemorates the contributions that Jews have made to the state of Florida since 1763, the first year they were allowed to live publicly as Jews in this state. Prior to 1763, Florida was owned by Spain and designated "for Catholics only." That changed with the Treaty of Paris, when the first Jews settled in Pensacola as Florida was handed over from Spain to Great Britain.
The legislation also designates January as the month to celebrate and honor Jewish Floridians.
Senator Margolis joins her constituents and the voters throughout the state of Florida in recognizing the contributions of Jewish Floridians over the years. House Representative Gustavo Barreiro (R- North Miami) sponsored the companion bill in the State House.