Debate Sparks Bi-partisan Support For Democrat Candidate Lipton
District 79 House Features the Only Partisan Debate Among Seven Races
NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla., Oct. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark Lipton, an attorney specializing in employee benefits, debated his Republican opponent October 18 at The Shell Factory in North Fort Myers.
"When Lipton answered, he provided thoughtful background and explanations leading to fact based solutions and not just rhetoric," said registered Republican Carlos Usuda, one of more than 50 people attending the debate. "Whether is was solutions to our blue green algae crisis, school funding or prison reform, his positions were sound and acceptable to conservatives as well as liberals. Meanwhile, his opponent did not provide as much information and several times offered canned responses."
The hour-long debate covered a variety of controversial topics, including criminal justice reform, health care, and funding for public schools.
Criminal Justice Reform
When asked about the criminal justice system, Lipton said, "Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana have all adopted reforms that saved them five percent on their Department of Corrections budgets -- that's $120 million a year here in Florida. Meanwhile crime rates are down in these same states." He added, "With overwhelmingly bi-partisan support, Florida's Senate passed a five bill reform package, but the House killed them all, appealing to private prison lobbyists. My opponent had no response to this outrage."
"Lipton pointed out that the Florida State House Republicans have a horrible track record on many such logical, bi-partisan solutions approved by the Senate," said Heron's Glen resident Rudy Berndlmaier, another registered Republican. "It's increasingly important that Lee County voters select a knowledgeable and ethical representative for us in the State House. This debate confirmed that, as for me, Mark Lipton is it."
Health Care
Lipton, a health care expert, who supports Medicaid expansion, says, "My opponent says he won't take money from his neighbor to pay for his grandmother's insurance, but then states proudly that his parents are on Medicare. He mustn't understand how Medicare works. Everyone over 65 gets the same coverage. Those who have made more money or retired with a higher income subsidize others."
Lipton believes that health care is a necessity and that every American should have access to affordable care. He pointed out that industrialized countries with universal health care pay ten percent of GDP for delivery, mostly through taxes. The United States pays 18 percent with worse outcomes relative to longevity and infant mortality.
Specifically, he noted, "Canada, using tax dollars and private doctors to pay for everyone's basic health needs, pays $6,000 per patient while we pay $12,000, yet Canada gets better results." He added, "The myth that Canadians come in droves to the U.S. for treatment is just that, a myth. Studies show only one tenth of one percent come to the United States for treatment. That means 99.9 percent of Canadians get treatment at home."
His opponent had no response to the numbers, arguing only that the free market insurance system will take care of everyone. Lipton pointed out, "As an employee benefits expert, having worked with health plans over 45 years, I can state unequivocally that the U.S. insurance model is by far the most expensive. Insurance companies get between patients and doctors. They sit on $163 billion of reserves, make $13 billion a year in profits, and still raise rates. They've had over half a century to prove their worth and have failed."
Restore Public School Funding
Lipton's opponent opposes taxes to pay for new schools, stating, "every tax dollar means less freedom." Lipton pointed out that Lee County's school district is one of the fastest growing in the nation, yet the legislature slashed its budget 13 percent. "I don't want to raise taxes, I want to restore them so we can build the six new schools needed." His opponent did not deny Lipton's numbers.
For over 30 years, Lipton has received the highest rating in skills and ethics from both peers and judiciary as recognized by national legal evaluators Martindale-Hubbell. If elected November 6, the AV-rated pre-eminent attorney will represent North Fort Myers, Fort Myers Shores, Olga, Alva, Buckingham, and Lehigh Acres.
SOURCE Mark Lipton for Florida House Seat 79
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