A major Democratic victory. When Suzanne Kosmas chose to take on entrenched GOP Rep. Tom Feeney in 2008, she knew this right-leaning district could make for a challenge. But her 57-41 victory proved that experienced, principled leadership was exactly what Floridians were looking for. Now, in her first term in Congress, Kosmas is already a top GOP target. With a handful of announced candidates already in the race for 2010, Kosmas will need all the support EMILY's List members can give her to keep this seat in Democratic hands.
A dedicated public servant. A 35-year resident of Florida, Kosmas launched her own residential real estate company in 1979. An active volunteer and board member for environmental and social service organizations, Kosmas helped create the first local “Women Build” initiative in her community, bringing women volunteers together to build affordable housing for single mothers. In Congress, Kosmas serves on both the influential Science and Technology and House Financial Services Committees.
A top GOP target for 2010. Republicans are already on the attack, making this district one of their top pick-up priorities for 2010. With a number of GOP candidates throwing their hats in the ring, Republicans are likely headed for a crowded primary -- but as GOPers fight for top billing on the primary ballot, they're leveling plenty of attacks against Kosmas. EMILY's List members mobilized for Kosmas in 2008, and there's no doubt she'll be counting on the same support as she fights to defend her seat in 2010.
Republicans started attacking Democrat Suzanne Kosmas almost as soon as she was sworn in to represent Florida’s 24th district in Congress. Kosmas defeated three-term Republican Cong. Tom Feeney, a right-wing, well-funded, and profoundly scandaldamaged incumbent, in 2008. It wasn’t easy to loosen Feeney’s grip on this seat, which he had drawn for himself when he was speaker of the Florida House. But Kosmas, an accomplished and determined leader, ran a masterful campaign that offered voters a refreshing alternative to Feeney’s antics. On election day, Kosmas beat Feeney 57 to 41 percent — the largest margin of defeat for any Republican incumbent in 2008.
Since then Republicans have relentlessly criticized Kosmas via radio, internet, and robocalls — often with little regard for accuracy. Meanwhile, they’re on the ground recruiting potential candidates. There are plenty of strong contenders eager to challenge Kosmas for this Republican-leaning seat: two state representatives have said they are running, and a local city commissioner reportedly raised $100,000 in just three weeks for a prospective campaign.
Unfortunately for Republicans, Kosmas won’t make an easy target. She brought to Congress a reputation as a hard-working, principled legislator. And in just her first few months, she’s delivered — working to provide tax breaks for seniors and disabled veterans, strengthen ethical guidelines, and eliminate automatic pay raises in Congress. Kosmas is using her spot on the House Financial Services Committee to re-establish regulatory oversight of the financial sector; she’s cosponsored legislation to provide financial literacy education to people seeking loans; and she helped pass a bill to protect consumers from unfair credit card practices. She introduced legislation to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses and to increase the deduction for teachers who buy supplies out-of-pocket. The House approved her request for $371 million for a new VA hospital in Orlando. Kosmas, whose district includes the Kennedy Space Center and who cochairs the NASA action team on the House Science and Technology Committee, successfully pushed to extend the shuttle program through 2011. Her leadership prompted the Orlando Sentinel to name her one of Florida’s “top space advocates.”
When Congress is not in session, Kosmas is in her district, talking to voters about their concerns. Kosmas’s constituent service operation is top-notch; her office has helped seniors, veterans, and other citizens cut through red tape and navigate the federal bureaucracy — from securing federal assistance, including temporary housing, for Volusia County residents displaced by flooding, to helping a military wife obtain a passport for her young son so she could take him to Germany to meet his father, a soldier stationed in Iraq who had not seen his child in over a year.
Kosmas has lived in Florida for 36 years, raising four children and operating a small business. She has always been active in her community as a volunteer and board member for organizations like Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Working with United Way and Habitat for Humanity, Kosmas helped create the first local “Women Build” initiative in her community, bringing women volunteers together to construct affordable housing for single mothers. “My interest has always been in serving my community,” Kosmas says. “That’s why I ran for Congress: to serve the people who live in this district responsibly and with integrity.”
When former Cong. Feeney designed this district, he thought he was creating a seat he could hold for years. But when he lost, it wasn’t just because of his own ethical meltdown; voters in this district are more moderate and in line with Kosmas’s views. In 2004, George W. Bush beat John Kerry by 12 points; in 2008, John McCain barely edged out Barack Obama, 51 to 49.
While that’s a significant shift, Florida 24 still leans Republican, and the GOP wants it back. Florida’s late primary (August 24, 2010) gives Kosmas plenty of time to keep delivering for her constituents — but while the field sorts itself out, national Republicans will continue playing “bad cop,” pouring resources into attacks they hope will make Kosmas a softer target in the general election. Veracity is not a high priority for the GOP: the Republican National Committee ran radio ads attacking Kosmas on health care before the House even had a bill to vote on, and the National Republican Congressional Committee launched robocalls attacking her for NASA budget cuts that she opposed.
Three Republican candidates are well-known office holders with bases in the district and fundraising ability. Their strength, combined with the full might of the national Republican Party, means Kosmas has an major battle to hold onto this seat. To beat Feeney in 2008, Kosmas raised and spent about $2.1 million; she must raise at least $3 million to hold onto this seat in 2010.
“Public education has long been one of my passionate concerns,” says Kosmas, whose four children attended Florida public schools. She fought in Congress to make sure that Florida received $2.7 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to plug gaps in the education budget and prevent teacher layoffs and program cuts. She backed legislation to help veterans access information about scholarships for them and their families, and voted to expand the G.I. Bill to provide education benefits to children of service members who die while on active duty. Kosmas introduced the College Tuition Tax Relief Act to extend the federal tax deduction for tuition and help middle- class families pay for education.
Florida has been hit hard by a rise in foreclosures, unemployment, and natural disasters. Kosmas is focusing on the individuals hurt by this recession — “the families who are struggling to make ends meet, the men and women who are fighting to keep their jobs, and the small business owners that are desperate to keep their companies functioning,” she says. Kosmas supported the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act to provide tax relief and create thousands of jobs — giving Florida a short-term boost while laying the groundwork for long-term economic recovery. She also helped pass legislation to help families renegotiate mortgages so they can avoid foreclosure and keep their homes.
“We must reduce the tax burden on families, eliminate fraud and waste, close corporate loopholes, and balance the federal budget,” says Kosmas, an original cosponsor of “pay-as-you-go” legislation requiring that new spending and tax cuts be offset to eliminate deficit spending. She supports incentives for businesses to develop new technologies that will foster energy independence and bolster the economy. Trade is critical to Florida’s economic health, and Kosmas is fighting to improve access to international markets. “Agreements must be strictly enforced and guarantee workers’ rights and environmental standards,” she says.
Protecting troops and ensuring they have the equipment they need are high priorities for the nation’s defense spending budget, Kosmas believes, along with keeping our promises to veterans and their families. “We must be prepared for threats against homeland security and international terrorism, but also able to provide adequate salaries and housing for military employees,” she says. Kosmas applauds President Obama’s efforts to improve America’s standing in the global community and rebuild our relationships with international allies.
Kosmas notes that the Recovery Act includes millions of dollars for public safety and funding that will preserve police officers’ jobs across central Florida. “I’ve worked to increase support for first responders by introducing measures to increase coordination for emergencies,” she says. Addressing crime’s root causes is critical to reducing the crime rate, Kosmas argues. “Education, drug prevention and treatment, job creation, and economic development tools give people hope for a better future and reduce crime.” But, she adds, “we must make sure that criminals are punished and that communities have the information they need to protect themselves against violent or sexual predators.” Kosmas voted for the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which includes tougher penalties for crimes motivated because of a victim’s ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, or sexual identity.
Kosmas is committed to ensuring that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. She voted to expand SCHIP (the State Children’s Health Insurance Program) and is working to make prescriptions more affordable for seniors and improve the veterans’ health system. “Health insurance reform must significantly lower health insurance costs for consumers, allow individuals to continue to choose their own plans and doctors, encourage new primary care physicians, and protect small businesses from having to shoulder an unfair burden,” she says. “At the same time, any health insurance reform effort must be paid for and must not increase the federal deficit.”
Kosmas is working in Congress to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and preserve our nation’s natural resources. “We must restore clean air and water regulations to levels at least as high as they were before the Bush years,” she says, “and hold corporations and businesses — not taxpayers — accountable for environmental violations.” She voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), which will drastically reduce carbon emissions while creating new jobs and moving the U.S. towards energy independence. Kosmas opposes allowing oil drilling and off-road vehicle access on public lands and drilling off the coast of Florida.
In the Florida House, Kosmas fought legislation to ban particular abortion procedures and efforts to violate the privacy of women seeking abortions. “In Congress, I will continue working to ensure that women have available and accessible health care, including contraception, and will always defend and protect women’s reproductive freedom,” she says.
August 2009