Whitney’s Plan for District 13

Tackle the Affordability and Insurance Crisis:

Addressing the affordability crisis is my top priority. We must combat inflation by strengthening supply chains while standing up to corporate greed and price-gouging. I will fight to lower the costs of prescription drugs by capping the costs of high-demand medications and expand the $35 cap for insulin to everyone, not just seniors. People should not have to choose between paying rent and life saving medication.

Most importantly, we must rein in spiraling insurance rates. Given the scale and complexity of failing insurance markets across the country, it is clear that state-level actions alone are insufficient. I propose the creation of a federal homeowners insurance policy for natural disasters covering primary residences, stepping in where private insurers are failing, and offering the stability and affordability we desperately need.

Protect Reproductive Rights and our Fundamental Freedoms:

As a mother of two young girls, it is vital that we protect a woman’s right to make her own healthcare and reproductive decisions and expand access to birth control. We must stop those in Congress pushing for a national abortion ban and enshrine Roe as federal law. Additionally, I am committed to fighting against all forms of discrimination, supporting our LGBTQIA+ community, and upholding the values of liberty and equality for all.

Anna Paulina Luna calls herself a “pro-life extremist,”⁶ believing abortion should be left up to the states, even going on to say, “If you don’t like it, move out of your state. Move somewhere else.”⁷ Luna voted for an amendment that would repeal the Department of Defense’s policy paying for women traveling to get an abortion when on duty.⁸

Luna is also a member of the Republican Study Committee, which called for a nationwide ban with no exceptions putting access to IVF at risk, a ban of mifepristone, and a gutting of funding for contraception for low-income and uninsured women.⁹

Strengthen Social Security and Medicare:

I stand firmly against any attempts to undermine Social Security and Medicare. These programs are vital lifelines for our seniors and future retirees, and I’m committed to protecting and strengthening them. Additionally, I’ll champion efforts to lower prescription drug costs, ensuring that quality healthcare is both accessible and affordable for all Floridians. By safeguarding these essential programs we can provide greater financial security and peace of mind to our seniors.

Anna Paulina Luna is a member of the Republican Study Committee, who’s budget called for over $1.5 trillion¹⁰ in cuts to social security, including an increase in retirement age and cutting disability benefits.¹¹ This same budget also called for raising Medicare costs for seniors, repealing the $35 insulin, and the $2,000 out-of-pocket cap,¹⁹ and raising premiums for seniors.

Additionally, Luna’s group’s budget seeks to take away $4.5 trillion from Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program,¹² causing forty-five millions Americans to not have health coverage while also eliminating consumer protections from health insurance companies.²¹ Luna voted for the Default on America Act, which would deny access to opioid use disorder treatment and limit educators’ abilities to address student mental health issues by $300 million.⁴

Promote Affordable Housing:

The lack of affordable housing in Florida, with skyrocketing rents and home prices has put a tremendous strain on families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Many hardworking people in our community are being priced out of their homes, forced to make impossible choices between paying their mortgage/rent and meeting other basic needs. This is unacceptable, and it’s time for change.

I will fight to stop large corporations from buying thousands of homes in Tampa Bay – raising both home and rental prices. I will push for increased down payment assistance and low interest loans for first-time home buyers. In addition, I support expanding rental assistance, tax incentives for affordable housing development, updating zoning laws, and encouraging the construction of ADUs.

Defend Democracy and Good Government:

Our democratic institutions face unprecedented challenges from those who deny or seek to overturn legitimate election results. Now more than ever we need to fight back and protect our democratic principles. I pledge to: defend voting rights to ensure every eligible citizen can participate in our democracy; reduce the influence of money and special interests in our political system; support legislation to prohibit members of Congress from trading individual stocks.

Furthermore, Politicians should never play games with people’s lives and livelihoods by shutting down the government or threatening not to raise the debt ceiling. Such actions are irresponsible, treat the armed services and civil servants as pawns, hurt our economy, raise interest rates and harm the dollar’s standing as a global currency.

Anna Paulina Luna has a strong history of trying to shut down the government as well as wasting the taxpayers dollars on partisan antics. Luna voted against²² the Fiscal Responsibility Act in May 2023 which passed averted a government shutdown, voted nay²³ in November 2023 to fund the government,²⁴ attempting to shut the government down again, and voted to block a budget deal from reaching the floor that would avert another shutdown in January 2024.²⁵ Luna even tweeted threatening to shut the government down if Biden did not close the border.²⁶

Luna has wasted taxpayers money through frivolous proceedings like her anticipated vote to have the House sergeant-at-arms forcibly arrest AG Garland before the House²⁷ and voting to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas.¹⁴

Finally, Luna is challenging the working government administration by spreading lies about the 2020 election being rigged, spreading that Trump won.²⁸ She even wrote a children’s book suggesting Biden’s victory was illegitimate.²⁹

Support Florida Families:

Many are struggling to afford taking care of their family. I am committed to supporting American families by advocating for comprehensive paid family, parental, and medical leave policies. Recognizing the importance of early childhood development, I will push for universal pre-K access and substantial child care assistance. These measures aim to relieve the burden on working families and ensure a strong foundation for our children’s future.

Anna Paulina Luna voted for the Default on America Act, which would have eliminated 200,000 Head Start Preschool slots and terminated 180,000 childrens’ childcare.⁴ Similarly, this bill would have caused 1.7 million women, infants, and children to have lost nutrition assistance.⁴

Protect our Environment and Beaches:

Florida’s natural beauty is our greatest asset. I’ll fight for clean energy, environmental protection, and hurricane-resilient infrastructure. This approach will preserve our state for future generations while creating jobs and lowering costs. By embracing sustainable technologies, we can lead in clean energy, achieve energy independence, and secure our economic future. From our beaches to the Everglades, we’ll safeguard Florida’s ecosystems while driving innovation and growth.

Anna Paulina Luna voted to cut environmental regulations and expand oil and gas drilling on public lands and waters,¹³ repealing several critical environmental programs created under the Inflation Reduction Act.²² Luna has said she would not have voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act,¹⁴ which has been the “largest single investment in the Everglades,” allocating $2 billion for natural restoration in Florida.¹⁵ Finally, Luna has faced criticism using aggressive legislative maneuvers and confrontational tactics with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over managing coastal resources by complicating efforts to combat beach erosion in the Tampa-St. Pete area.¹⁶

Support our Veterans:

Our veterans have made immeasurable sacrifices for our nation, and they deserve our unwavering support. This commitment is personal for me—several of my family members have served, and my father actively assists homeless veterans with housing. I will champion initiatives to enhance healthcare services for our veterans, addressing both physical and mental health needs. I’m dedicated to tackling the crisis of veteran homelessness and expanding access to comprehensive mental health resources.

These aren’t just policy goals; they’re moral imperatives. Together, we can ensure that those who’ve defended our freedoms receive the care and respect they’ve rightfully earned.

Anna Paulina Luna voted for the Default on America Act, which would cut veterans’ healthcare funding, with 30 million fewer veteran outpatient visits, and 81,000 jobs lost across the Veterans Health Administration.⁴ This would cut critical funding to almost 60,000 veterans in the district.²⁰ Luna claimed she would have voted against the PACT Act, which expanded access to benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits and chemicals.²¹

Secure Our Borders and Fix Immigration:

I support securing our borders with advanced technology and increased manpower to deter illegal crossings. We must crack down on human traffickers and drug cartels exploiting our broken system. At the same time, we need comprehensive immigration reform to create a fair and efficient process for legal immigration. Addressing root causes of migration, such as violence and poverty, and ensuring swift, fair adjudication of asylum claims are essential for maintaining order and security. We must put solutions and our security over partisanship.

Anna Paulina Luna has opposed bipartisan efforts to address border security and immigration reform.