Jeb Bush, governor of Florida, has been under constant assault by a coalition of special interest groups who oppose him because he is a) conservative, and b) brother of the president of the United States. Now, a group calling itself "We All Count" has gone on the offensive, distorting facts or simply lying to push their big-government, anti-business, attack-the-white-male agenda to the voters of Florida. Luckily, not everyone is buying their rhetoric. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has a lletter to the editor today that uses facts and numbers to lay waste to the empty rhetoric emanating for We All Count. I am quoting the full letter, because it is eloquent in its simplicity. The author is Lisa Davis, of Weston, Florida.
A recent Associated Press article, "New DCF boss under fire for another article on child discipline, women's role," ends with a quote by Barbara DeVane, head of We All Count: "Kids don't count, women don't count with Jeb Bush."
I would like to take this opportunity to enlighten your readers and my fellow Floridians, about a few important facts concerning Gov. Bush's record on women's and children's issues.
Under Gov. Bush's leadership, Florida has jumped from the 46th state in the nation with women appointed to top policy positions to No. 2 in the nation. Fifty-two percent of Florida's state policy leaders are women.
Since taking office, Gov. Bush has appointed 55 women to the judiciary.
Over the last three years, state agencies have exponentially increased funding with businesses owned by women. During the last full fiscal year of the Chiles administration, Florida spent $114 million with women-owned businesses. Gov. Bush has more than doubled this spending; during the last full fiscal year of his administration, the state has spent $269 million with women-owned businesses.
Since Gov. Bush was elected, 96 percent more children will have access to the state's publicly funded health insurance programs, for a total of over 1.5 million children enrolled by next summer.
Education has been funded at historic levels; funding for K-12 education has increased during Gov. Bush's tenure in office by over $3 billion since 1998. This increased funding, coupled with the greater accountability measures and higher standards of the A-Plus Plan, is resulting in increased student achievement in reading, writing and math.
These are just a few of the numerous accomplishments that Gov. Bush has made on behalf of Florida's women and children. I look forward to four more years of such support from Gov. Bush.
posted on August 30, 2002 05:41 PM
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