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Posted on 06/24/2005 7:20:46 PM PDT by nypokerface
BRANDON, Fla. - Gov. Jeb Bush on Friday signed into law landmark legislation that overhauls the state's growth and development guidelines for the first time in two decades and calls for $1.5 billion in state money to be spent during the next year on new highways, classrooms and water facilities.
Accompanied by key lawmakers, cabinet members and other officials in this Tampa bedroom community notorious for traffic snarls, Bush said the new "pay-as-you-go" laws will ensure there are adequate roads, schools and water resources in a state projected to grow by 5 million residents in the next 17 years.
"It's clear as day," Bush said before signing the three bills. "If we do not invest in protecting water, building roads, providing adequate education in enough schools, our growth will change and alter, and it will deteriorate, and people won't be able to pursue their dreams."
The legislation requires that adequate roads and schools be in place or under construction within three years of a local government's approval of new development. It also links local and regional water planning and requires that an adequate water supply is available before people move into new developments.
Two of the bills create the Water Protection and Sustainability Program within the Department of Environmental Protection and allocate about $200 million to clean up polluted waterways and develop alternative water sources, such as enclosed reservoirs and desalination plants.
"I'm so excited to see an entire growth management package, one that deals with infrastructure, one that deals with planning ahead and one that actually puts our money where our mouth is," said state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, one of the architects of the water bills. "This really is a historic day."
It's the first time that lawmakers have set aside a significant sum to pay for some of the tens of billions of dollars in projects intended to reduce crowding around the state. It will also help pay for new classrooms required under a constitutional amendment limiting the number of children in public school classrooms, and closes loopholes in existing growth management laws.
"We have 18 million people living in our state today, and one thing we know in Florida is that we're going to have more people next year and the year after," Bush said. "We have a sustainable state right now if we invest in the long-term things."
Critics say, however, that the laws are not designed to control growth as much as to provide roads, water and schools so more development can take place.
The legislation was a victory for Bush and Senate President Tom Lee, a developer, who both said it was a top priority during the session in the spring.
In order to win consensus on the measure, Lee made several concessions in the final hours of the two-month session, including dropping a proposal that would have made it easier to raise sales and gas taxes by up to $5 billion around the state without voter approval.
The Brandon Republican had high praise Friday for lawmakers in both houses who worked on the measures.
"We don't really have an opportunity all that often to get together on something this substantial," Lee said.
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Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
"It's clear as day," Bush said before signing the three bills. "If we do not invest in protecting water, building roads, providing adequate education in enough schools, our growth will change and alter, and it will deteriorate, and people won't be able to pursue their dreams."
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I think Bush is one of the best governors in the US. Still, it is a shame to see government doing all these thigns. Private industry could do them much more efficiently and cheaper and government wouldn't be 'burden' with this responsibility.
True, but private enterprise can't rape the taxpayers as well as the government can.
BTT!!!!!
Wisconsin version:
"It's clear as day," (Governor Doyle) said before signing the three bills. "If we do not invest in protecting water, building roads, providing adequate (English as a Second Language) education in enough schools, our growth will change and alter, and it will deteriorate, and (illegal aliens) won't be able to pursue their dreams."
We don't have that trouble in FL.
Somehow, I just don't believe that. ;)
Whatever floats your boat.
Really? There are no problems with illegal aliens in Florida? Can another Floridian verify Unicorn's opinion?
I am glad to see this legislation. My county is one of the fastest growing ones in the state. The growth is really hurting us. We now need to build one new elementary school per year, our roads are snarled with traffic, and all of our infrastructure and services are being overwhelmed.
I hope this slows down the growth somewhat and gives communities such as mine a chance to figure out how we are going to pay for the new schools, fire stations, roads, etc.
It is private industry and development that is putting pressure on existing communities. Government in its most fundamental sense is a consensus of the citizens on how best to manage their resources and their communities.
Not all government is bad. We are talking here of self-government and the decisions we make collectively so as to live together as harmoniously as possible.
To live without any government would be to live in a state of chaos, anarchy and fear.
I think Florida has the best self-government in the country at present. Jeb Bush is the best governor I have ever seen.
Yep, this is just what Florida needs .... more and faster growth.
Florida Constitution:
SECTION 9. English is the official language of Florida.
I am becoming more fearful that the anti-public school types are going to prevail.
Public school has deteriorated because it has been asked to do too many things since the 1960's.
However, overall it does a remarkably efficient job.
The places where it doesn't do well are more a reflection of the surrounding community than the school itself. In communities where the parents care about education and send their children to school to learn, those schools excel. You can't blame a particular school without also pointing a finger at the community of students who go to that school.
If we lose our public education system in this country we will lose our melting pot. It will be disastrous for the future of our country.
You really want the majority of students educated in narrow parochial schools? You want all the Muslim children going to madrassas on the public dime? Or, if not Muslims, how about all the tiny cultist and narrow Christian schools that would spring up. Their particular point of view and indoctrination could be just as harmful to the future health of the nation as the madrassa. Or what about schools for specific groups of immigrants where the children are taught solely in Spanish, or Roumanian? People are bothered by bilingual education now. It would be far worse in a completely privatized educational system.
We really need to be careful of what we ask for. A look at the future unintended consequences would be wise.
Jeb Bush has taken the right approach with the FCAT and school accountability. Schools now get yearly report cards published in the local newspapers. The effect has been amazing. Failing schools are singled out and it becomes a point of pride to do something to change the environment at these schools to make them places of learning. These schools have had to find ways to reach out to the children and parents to help them turn the schools around.
One thing FCAT has done is to remove the time wasting activities too many schools indulged in. Now that schools are forced to be results oriented, they must focus a limited number of hours and assets toward specific goals. My children used to have to sit through a week of self-esteem training each year in school. I protested every year but as a lone voice could not get any changes made. Now with the demands and pressures of FCAT to make sure the children meet minimum levels of reading, writing and math competency, there is just no time to waste on irrelevant garbage such as the self-esteem week.
All children in the state have benefitted enormously.
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