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Florida During the
Bush Years
Changes and Issues
In addition to natural disasters and national elections, Governor Bush
dealt with a myriad of state-related issues during his eight years in
office. These included the tobacco industry lawsuits and settlements,
controversies over the Department of Children and Families, acceleration
of the digitization of Florida's government and the launching of MyFlorida.com,
protests over the death of long-time patient Terri Schiavo, the passage
of several state constitutional amendments, and public reactions to his
"One Florida" and "Service First" plans. Below are just a small sampling
of some of the other changes and issues Florida faced during Bush's two
terms.
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Governor Bush joins President at White House to take historic
action protecting Florida from drilling (2002)
Accompanying note: "At the White House, President George
W. Bush made an unprecedented commitment to Florida Governor
Jeb Bush, protecting both Florida's beaches and the Everglades
from oil and gas drilling." Read
more.
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Governor Bush speaking about the Lake Okeechobee & Estuary
Recovery Plan (2005)
Accompanying note: "Governor Jeb Bush, joined by Agriculture
Commissioner Charles Bronson, Senator Ken Pruitt and Representative
Joe Negron on the shores of Lake Okeechobee, today unveiled
a comprehensive plan to accelerate restoration and recovery
of the largest freshwater lake in the southeast." Read
more.
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Fort Mose groundbreaking with Lorenzo Laws (2006)
Accompanying note: "In celebration of Black History Month,
Governor Jeb Bush today joined the Department of Environmental
Protection to break ground on the Fort Mose Visitor Center.
The 3,600 square foot center will include exhibits, lectures,
audio/visual presentations, artifacts and other archeological
finds to allow visitors to experience a realistic interpretation
of Fort Mose. The earliest known free African American settlement
in the United States, Fort Mose is one of Florida's most notable
African American heritage sites."
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Governor Jeb Bush posing with Babcock Ranch cowboys: Punta
Gorda, Florida (2006)
Accompanying note: "...Governor Jeb Bush [signing] the
Babcock Preservation Act, taking the State a step closer to
completing one of the largest and most unique conservation
purchases in Florida's history." Read
more.
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Senate President Toni Jennings
Jennings became Florida's first female lieutenant-governor,
when Governor Bush chose her in February 2003 to replace Frank
Brogan, who resigned the lieutenant-governorship to become
a university president.
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Rep. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, center, debates in opposition
to an inadequate education funding proposal considered on
the House floor during the 2003 Legislature
From an end to affirmative action in college admissions to
Bush's A+ Plan which created grades for school performances
based on the newly devised FCAT test to tuition vouchers and
the popularly voted Constitutional amendment restricting class
sizes, Bush faced both praise and criticisms for his proposals
and actions regarding Florida's schools.
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Governor John Ellis Bush and cabinet : Tallahassee, Florida
(2001)
Seated in front (L-R): Secretary of State Katherine D. Harris
(R), Governor Bush, Treasurer Charles Thomas Gallagher III
(R). Standing: Comptroller Robert F. Milligan (R), Attorney
General Robert A. Butterworth (D), Commissioner of Education
Charles J. Crist Jr. (R), Commissioner of Agriculture Terry
L. Rhodes (R).
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Governor John Ellis Bush and cabinet : Tallahassee, Florida
(2002)
Pictured is the last Executive Cabinet to include the Secretary
of State, Comptroller, Commissioner of Education, and Treasurer.
Changes to the state constitution by popular vote shrunk the
Cabinet to only four elected posts: Governor, Commissioner
of Agriculture, Attorney General, and Chief Financial Officer
(a combination of the Comptroller and Treasurer). The remaining
positions were removed from the Cabinet and converted to gubernatorial
appointive positions. Seated in front (L-R): Secretary of
State James C. Smith (R), Governor Bush, Treasurer Charles
Thomas Gallagher III (R). Standing: Comptroller Robert F.
Milligan (R), Attorney General Robert A. Butterworth (D),
Commissioner of Education Charles J. Crist Jr. (R), Commissioner
of Agriculture Charles H. Bronson.
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David Ramsay making presentation for Florida High Speed Rail
Commission (1988)
After many years of speculation, Florida voters passed a
referendum in 2000 to create a high speed rail system. Citing
a lack of funds, Bush refused to fund it. Finally, in 2004,
voters repealed the referendum by 64% of the vote.
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Governor Charlie Crist
On 2 January 2007, Crist, a former state legislator, and
both a Commissioner of Education and Attorney general during
Jeb Bush's two gubernatorial terms, became Florida's 44th
Governor.
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