ROBERT M. NEELD, Democrat
Candidate for U.S. Congress

ROBERT M. NEELD, DEMOCRAT
BEFORE THE CAPE CORAL CIVIC ASSOCIATION
TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2004

GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT. MY NAME IS ROBERT NEELD.

BEING IN THE SAME ROOM WITH CONNIE MACK, CAROL GREEN, MY GOOD FRIEND ANDY COY, AND THE OTHERS MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THE RACCOON WHO JUST CRASHED A REPUBLICAN PARTY PICNIC. BUT THAT’S ALL RIGHT.

AS I’M SURE YOU ALL KNOW, I’M THE ONLY DEMOCRAT THUS FAR TO ANNOUNCE A RUN FOR PORTER GOSS’ SEAT.

BY THE WAY, IF ANY OF YOU OUT THERE KNOW OF ANOTHER DEMOCRAT WITH AN INKLING TO RUN FOR CONGRESS, TELL EM’ TO COME ON IN!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE NEED TO HAVE A SPIRITED DEBATE ON THE CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN LEVEL ABOUT OUR FUTURE -- ESPECIALLY DURING THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES.

THE REASON FOR THIS DEBATE IS SIMPLE: YOU, THE VOTING PUBLIC, HAVE AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE CANDIDATES STAND ON THE ISSUES.

SO TONIGHT, AS THE LONE “D” STANDING BEFORE THIS DISTINGUISHED AUDIENCE, I’M HERE TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHO I AM -- AND WHERE I’M COMING FROM.

FIRST, I’M PROUD TO CALL MYSELF A YELLOW DOG DEMOCRAT.

IN THE SPIRIT OF TWO GREAT FLORIDIANS WHO CAME BEFORE ME, LAWTON CHILES AND CLAUDE PEPPER, I’M PROUD TO SAY THAT I AM FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE -- AND STRONG ON OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE.

AND I’M A MODERATE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO SOCIAL MATTERS, AND FOR PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT.

YOU MAY BE THINKING: THERE GOES ROBERT NEELD AGAIN, TRYING TO SQUARE THE CIRCLE.

BUT WHEN YOU HONESTLY THINK IT THROUGH, THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP -- SUCH AS THAT DISPLAYED BY LAWTON CHILES AND CLAUDE PEPPER -- HAS BEEN THE BEDROCK OF PROGRESS THAT OUR GREAT STATE HAS ENJOYED OVER THE YEARS.

YOUR CAN COUNT ON THIS: I’M FIXING TO REINSTATE THAT BRAND OF THOUGHFUL LEADERSHIP DURING MY CAMPAIGN, AND DURING MY TENURE IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

SO NOW: HOW CAN THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP, BY A DEMOCRAT IN FLORIDA’S FOURTEENTH DISTRICT, MAKE A DIFFERENCE UP THERE IN WASHINGTON?

LET’S BEGIN.

WE LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL REGIONS OF THE USA.

AND WE’RE PROUD OF THIS.

BUT AN UNDENIABLE TRUTH IS, THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS EITHER CAN’T FIND NECESSARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES OR THEY JUST PLAIN CAN’T AFFORD ‘EM.

LIKE ME, YOU HAVE TO BE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ABYSMAL STATE OF AFFAIRS. IT ESPECIALLY HURTS OUR VETERANS, OUR SENIORS, AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE JUST BEGINNING THEIR CAREERS AS CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

IT’S CURRENTLY A PROBLEM OF CATASTROPHIC PROPORTIONS -- AND IT WILL ONLY GET MUCH WORSE IN DUE TIME IN THE ABSENCE OF THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP.

HERE’S THE PARADOX: THE TAX DOLLARS NECESSARY, TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, WERE, ARE, AND WILL BE THERE – RIGHT WITHIN THE FEDERAL BUDGET.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: IT’S ALL ABOUT REALIGNING OUR PRIORITIES.

AS YOUR CONGRESSMAN, I’LL GET OUR TAX DOLLARS RETURNED TO THIS DISTRICT FOR QUALITY HEALTH CARE – ESPECIALLY FOR MAMMOGRAMS AND FOR PEDIATRIC CARE.

I’M NOT GOING TO POINT ANY FINGERS OF BLAME TONIGHT BECAUSE NOW’S NOT THE TIME FOR FINGER-POINTING.

REMEMBER THIS: THOSE DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE DESPITE RECENT TAX CUTS IN CONGRESS – AND THEY’LL CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.

AND, I’LL NEVER VOTE – REPEAT: NEVER VOTE --TO RAISE THE TAXES ON OUR HARD-WORKING FELLOW CITIZENS. I’LL PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP NECESSARY TO GET OUR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES SO THAT SERVICES CAN BE RESTORED – AND FULLY FUNDED.

REMEMBER, FOLKS: IT’S ALL ABOUT PRIORITIES.

HERE’S ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICY MATTER WHERE I’LL FIGHT HARD FOR THE FOURTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN JOB CREATION – AND BY THAT, I’M TALKING ABOUT MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL WHO WORK IN THE 14TH DISTRICT.

AS YOUR CONGRESSMAN, I’LL VOTE TO FULLY FUND JOB TRAINING, JOB RE-TRAINING AND JOB RETENTION PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN SLASHED.

SECOND, I’LL SPONSOR AN INCREASE IN THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

AND THIRD, I’LL SPONSOR LEGISLATION LEADING TO AFFORDABLE DAY CARE PROGRAMS, FOR THE CHILDREN OF HARD-WORKING PARENTS.

I BELIEVE THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH IS THE ENGINE THAT MAKES PROSPERITY POSSIBLE FOR ALL – AND BY ALL, I INCLUDE THE DISTRICT’S HARD-WORKING WORK FORCE.

TO PUT SOME HIGH-TEST FUEL INTO THE REGION’S ECONOMIC ENGINE, I WILL SPONSOR LEGISLATION THAT EXTENDS ATTRACTIVE TAX CREDITS TO ANY BUSINESS THAT PROVIDES ADEQUATE, AND COMPREHENSIVE, HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES.

I’LL ALSO WORK HARD WITH LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AND WITH OUR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE TO IDENTIFY MANUFACTURERS AND BUSINESSES FROM OTHER AREAS WHO ARE LOOKING TO RELOCATE TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IF ANY BUSINESS OFFERS ITS EMPLOYEES FAMILY-SUPPORTING WAGES, JOB SECURITY, AND MEANINGFUL BENEFITS, THAT BUSINESS CAN COUNT ON ROBERT NEELD’S FULL SUPPORT AND THE RESOURCES OF MY OFFICE AS YOUR CONGRESSMAN.

I’LL ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT CREATES FAMILY-SUPPORTING JOBS IN DUNBAR, AND WITHIN OUR OTHER URBAN AREAS.

I WANT TO MAKE THE 14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT A SHOWCASE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – IN OTHER WORDS, PUT OUR HARD-WORKING PEOPLE AND OUR ENTREPRENEURS AT THE HEAD OF THE CLASS IN THE FIERCE REGIONAL COMPETITION FOR HIGHLY SKILLED, FAMILY-SUPPORTING JOBS. AGAIN, THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES OUR ECONOMIC TRAIN MUST TAKE US ALL TO PROSPERITY.

I’LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT MY RESPECTIVE POSITIONS ON IMPORTANT DISTRICT ISSUES AS THE CAMPAIGN PROGRESSES.

BUT, FOR NOW, LET ME CONCLUDE BY SAYING, HUMBLY THAT, IN RETURN FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR VOTE, I GIVE YOU THIS SOLEMN PLEDGE:

I WILL REPRESENT YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS TO THE ABSOLUTE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

MY DOOR WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN TO YOU, HERE AND IN WASHINGTON.

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU SENT ME TO WASHINGTON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

For more information: Robert Neeld (239)549-9588