1. Precious tax dollars are being wasted continuing to fund prison beds for drug addicts instead of focusing on treatment like drug court. Fifteen and twenty five year mandatory minimum prison sentences for first time offenders because they possess a handful of pain pills is barbaric. We need to save prison beds for violent and repeat offenders. I will lobby to change the law to limit these mandatory minimum sentences and instead prosecute these pain clinics that hand out these addictive medicines without valid medical necessity. I will also direct the Florida Department of Corrections to identify first time drug offenders serving prison sentences for review by the cabinet to consider commuting their sentences to community control (house arrest) and/or probation. The savings of tax dollars will be significant and community based drug treatment will be far more cost effective and humane.

2. Florida courts are being overwhelmed with frivolous civil litigation. One reason is that there are too many lawyers and law schools in Florida continue to churn out new lawyers whose job prospects are slim. Legal education has become big business resulting in a lawyer glut that does not serve Florida well. I will urge our Florida law schools to reduce enrollment by 25% for the next 4 years, and I will propose a cap on out of state lawyers admitted to the Florida Bar each year.

3. We must step up our efforts to prosecute health care fraud in Florida. We must hold healthcare providers criminally responsible when they commit fraud on the taxpayer. We must aggressively audit medical providers to eliminate the acceptable culture of corruption that currently exists within the system. The Statewide Prosecutor's Office must be more effectively utilized to combat healthcare fraud.

4. The Attorney General of Florida must do more to protect the environment. I will oppose oil drilling off any Florida coast. I will hold cruise lines and other shipping interests criminally responsible if they pollute our waterways or damage our coral reefs. I will ask hard questions of cities and counties who make no effort to clean up polluted lakes, rivers, and waterways. I will work with the federal government to insure the viability of the everglades to protect our water supply.

5. As Attorney General I will endeavor to reform the juvenile justice system to meet the changes of today's youth. I believe the adult system should be used only as a last resort for serious juvenile offenders. Our juvenile detention facilities must recommit themselves to rehabilitate and educate our troubled youth.

6. As attorney General I would work with the State Attorneys to better train prosecutors to insure justice for victims. Statewide on-line educational courses for prosecutors could help supplement the training they receive in their circuits.

7. We must do a better job on enforcing child support to save money spent on public assistance when parents do not honor their obligations. We must streamline a path through the court system to force deadbeat parents to support their children.

8. We must adequately support our criminal appeals personnel to facilitate a timely and fair resolution of these cases.

9. The Attorney General must quickly react to consumer fraud when it is detected. Swift prosecution of those who prey on the elderly or who gouge hurricane victims must not be tolerated.

10. The Attorney General's Office must be responsive to the needs of its clients, the citizens of Florida. The Attorney General is ultimately responsible for an effective and fair criminal justice system in addition to many other vital responsibilities that affect our state. The office needs an experienced prosecutor and trial lawyer who has practiced throughout Florida like Jim Lewis.