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Friends,

For nearly two decades, you have trusted me to fight for the people of Florida in Tallahassee. As a State Senator, as Education Commissioner, Attorney General and mostly recently as your Governor, I have worked to protect the quality of life for families and businesses here in the Sunshine State.

When my friend Senator Mel Martinez announced his plans to retire from the United States Senate, I had to ask myself how I could best continue to serve the people of the state I love. After much thought and prayer, Carole and I have determined that while serving as your Governor has been the privilege of a lifetime, I must take my fight for the people of Florida to the United States Senate.

Standing on my record of service, I humbly ask for your support as we begin this great endeavor. Throughout my career in public service, protecting Floridians has been my top priority.  I have fought to keep criminals off the streets and away from our children. In the State Senate, I fought for legislation that requires criminals to serve 85 percent of their sentences, as Attorney General I pushed through the Jessica Lunsford Act and successfully defended Megan’s Law, and then in my first months as Governor, I signed legislation that requires brutal felony offenders who violate probation to return to jail.

We’ve made great strides in protecting Floridians’ safety, but we’ve also worked to protect their health and well-being. I signed into law a nationally recognized, market-based health care program to provide low cost health insurance for nearly four million uninsured Floridians. We took historic measures to reform property taxes and property insurance, keeping more Floridians in their homes. We’ve seen Florida’s excellence in education continue to increase, with Florida earning a top-ten ranking in education last year, and coming closer than ever to closing the achievement gap with more students graduating from high school and attending our state’s excellent colleges and universities. We’ve safeguarded our environment by working to preserve Florida’s Everglades, reduce dependence on foreign oil and mitigate the effects of global climate change, putting Florida at the forefront of movement towards green energy. Finally, we’ve safeguarded Florida’s business climate, standing on conservative values to keeping taxes low for families and business, and as a result we’ve maintained a business climate that encourages companies to locate and expand in the Sunshine State.

There is no doubt that our state and our nation are facing difficult times.  Leaders emerge during challenging times, because people must have hope for the future and a sense of stability in the midst of uncertainty. My common sense approach to government has provided real results for the people of Florida; I am proud to stand on my record of service and am ready to take my fight for you to Washington, DC and to the United States Senate.

Sincerely,