Jeb’s allies promote conservative wins in 40-point list

In an interview, Bush said he has been surprised at the charges and said Democrats in Florida, where he served as governor for eight years, say he was too right-wing. “It surprises me. It surprises a lot of liberals in Florida. Their heads explode when they see this,” he said.

Jeb Bush as governor in 2006. AP Photo

To help make his case, associates have drawn up a 40-point list of center-right achievements by Bush, a resume they believe few others can touch. Titled “Governor Jeb Bush: The Conservative Record,” it lists actions he took to cut taxes and the state’s payroll, protect the unborn, expand school choice and defend the Second Amendment.

Some statistics on the list provided to the Washington Examiner: $19 billion in tax cuts, 1.3 million jobs created, an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association, first in nation for its statewide school voucher program, signed partial birth abortion ban, and opened the first faith-based prison.

Meanwhile, his political action committee, The Right To Rise, has distributed the video above showing Bush at the CPAC convention highlighting his conservative achievements.

JEB BUSH’S CONSERVATIVE RECORD

FISCAL:

— Every single year he was in office, Governor Bush cut taxes to a total of more than $19 billion – all while growing the state budget reserves by $8 billion.

— He even earned the nickname “Veto Corleone” because he used the line-item veto over 2,500 times to cut more than $2 billion of legislators’ pork barrel projects.

— Governor Bush led the fight for civil service reform, which reclassified 16,000 state workers into at-will employees. These were senior managers, executives and the people who needed to be held most accountable.

— Governor Bush also reduced the state workforce by 13,000.

— Governor Bush issued an executive order to end race-based preferences and quotas in state hiring and government contracts. He also worked with the Board of Regents to end affirmative action in the university system.

— Under Governor Bush, all three credit rating companies increased the state’s bond rating – including the state’s first ever AAA bond rating.

— Governor Bush also led a comprehensive reform of Medicare, which cut spending and provided more choice, better access to care, and improved quality.

ECONOMIC:

— During his time in office, Florida created 1.3 million new jobs.

— As Governor Bush left office, the state’s unemployment rate was 3.5 percent.

— The average annual real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in Florida of 4.4 percent, outperformed national average of 2.9 percent.

— The average per-capita income growth over Governor Bush’s two terms was 4.6 percent.

Results:

— Florida added more jobs than any other state in three of Governor Bush’s eight years in office (i.e. Note: individual years 2002, 2003 & 2004).

— Florida led the nation in job creation over the final five years of Governor Bush’s Administration (i.e. Note: cumulative years 2002-2006).

— The increase of 1.3 million jobs over Governor Bush’s entire tenure was second nationally during that time period (behind only California).

PRO-LIFE:

— For Governor Bush, being pro-life is not just about preventing deaths of the most vulnerable, but also about promoting human dignity and helping people preserve life.

— When Governor Bush took office, abortion clinics were virtually unregulated and parents had no legal role in their minor daughters’ abortion decisions.

— Governor Bush successfully advocated for reasonable health and safety standards to protect women, rather than treating abortion clinics and their patients differently than any other surgical center or medical facility.

— In 2004, Governor Bush led the fight for a constitutional amendment requiring parental notice for abortions and signed a bill into law that required 48 hours notice to the parent or guardian.

— At Governor Bush’s urging, the state appropriated $2 million each year for crisis pregnancy support services across Florida. These services help women facing difficult circumstances avoid abortion through counseling and tangible life supports.

— When Florida abortion advocates argued that the state should be required to cover abortions under Medicaid, Governor Bush’s administration fought back and prevented state funds from covering the procedure.

— Governor Bush signed into law a partial-birth abortion ban.

— Governor Bush signed into law a bill creating the, first in the nation, “Choose Life” license plates. The revenue goes to nongovernmental, nonprofit agencies to provide counseling and material support for pregnant women seeking adoption.

— Today, abstinence education in the state is thriving and the “choose life” license plate has collected almost $10 million for pro-life causes.

— Abstinence education programs for youths ages 9-18 were also strongly supported by Governor Bush. During his term, Florida experienced a reduction by over 12% of the number of births per one thousand to mother’s 15 to 17 years old.

EDUCATION:

— Governor Bush took on the teachers’ unions and instituted the first statewide voucher program in the United States.

— By end of second term: 223,000 more Florida students in grades 3-10 that were reading at or above grade level than in 2001. 234,000 more students performing math at or above grade level than in 2001.

— 61% of African American 3rd graders were reading at or above grade level in 2006 compared to 36% in 2001. 69% of Hispanic 3rd graders were reading at or above grade level compared to 46% in 2001.

— From 2000-2006, the number of charter schools in Florida essentially tripled from 118 to 334. The number of Florida students served by charter schools during that time period grew from 16,120 to 92,214.

— As an enduring legacy, there are now more than 290,000 Florida students who participate in some sort of school choice program in Florida.

PROMOTING A CULTURE OF LIFE:

— Governor Bush also believed that programs that allowed seniors to age with dignity, at home surrounded by family and friends, were better for Florida citizens and the state.

— Today, seniors are served by community-based initiatives that provide quality care and lessen the financial strain on them and their families.

— For Florida seniors in the traditional nursing home setting, Governor Bush implemented major reforms in 2001 that have significantly improved conditions, standards and care.

— To foster the rehabilitation of inmates, Governor Bush also opened the nation’s first entirely faith-based prison at Lawtey Correctional Institution in North Florida.

— With a wide range of beliefs represented, the expanding program became a model for the nation and resulted in a significantly lower disciplinary report.

SUPPORT FOR 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS:

— Under Governor Bush’s leadership, Florida became one of the most pro-2nd Amendment states in country.

— Governor Bush is a lifetime member of the NRA.

— Governor Bush has an A+ rating with NRA.

— In 2005, Governor Bush signed the “Stand Your Ground” Law in an effort to protect individuals who felt in danger of imminent peril, great bodily harm or death.

— Through other pieces of legislation, Governor Bush was able to expand permitted carry areas for gun-owners, shield concealed weapon permit holders from public record requests and allow out-of-state concealed weapons permit holders the same rights as other Florida permit holders.

— Florida’s concealed carry laws are regarded as a model for other states. Governor Bush strengthened those laws and enhanced the ability of law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Today, there are well over one million valid concealed weapons licenses in Florida.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].