Florida US House Candidates Speak on Space Issues
Friday, November 2, 2012
By: Nicole Creston

Nov 2, 2012 | WMFE - Candidates for Florida's newly-drawn US House District 8, which encompasses Brevard, Indian River and east Orange counties, are talking about the issue of space.

Democrat Shannon Roberts is a retired NASA executive. She says President Barack Obama’s three-point approach will bring jobs back to the Space Coast.

"We anticipate a workforce level of about 10,000 ultimately, and we’re hoping to reach that level in about 2014. Right now, we’re about at 8,500,” says Roberts. “As we continue to develop the three-pronged initiative: the commercialization of space; research, development, and testing; and deep space exploration, then that will in turn require an additional workforce."
 
Her opponent, Space Coast Congressman Bill Posey, is criticizing the way President Obama has handled space-related issues. He says the president has left NASA without a stable plan.