Early this year, Carl took it upon himself to work with friends and advisors to try and tackle an issue that is termed as a crisis for the citizens of Florida. It is an epidemic of sorts, a drag on household wallets and a painful reminder of inaction in Tallahassee. It’s not going to be an easy fix, yet leadership on the issue is needed to bring about change. The issue, of course, is homeowners’ insurance.

In February, Carl published his policy on homeowners’ insurance on the web and it has been the most popular draw to the site from people doing web searches on the subject. He has also since heard from citizens in the form of emails, phone calls and in-person pleas as the situation has only worsened. Some in the district have seen their rates increase 330% or more! The Florida Legislature didn’t protect homeowners against thousands of dollars in increases or being flat-out dropped. The government’s job is to protect us and they have failed spectacularly.

It’s gotten to a point that the only recourse for some is to move out-of-state, and there is no guarantee even that will work. With property taxes sky high, rising interest rates, the insurance crisis and a saturated real estate market to boot, citizens will find themselves stuck in a rut they can’t escape.

We can all see there is a problem and it needs a solution — yet Republicans are running on empty slogans, hollow claims of support of issues and banal rhetoric about being "tough on" this or that but offering nothing to back it up. Have you had enough of the rampant increases in insurance rates that have been a mainstay the last few years? How can you not have?