FYI. :)
Here's the latest update from Jeb.
By the way, here's Jeb's Friday newsletter that I just received. There's all kinds of useful information:
MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR JEB BUSH
On Monday, I traveled to Boca Raton to dedicate the new manufacturing facility at Nabi Biopharmaceuticals. This company represents the fast-growing and economically important biotechnology industry in Florida. Our state ranks second in the country for employment in the biomedical sector. Florida has approximately 2,200 firms in Florida employing over 300,000 workers. I commend Nabi and other biopharmaceutical firms that are committed to developing life-saving medicines and equipment.
Also on Monday, I visited the Forest Park Urban League Head Start Center in Jacksonville to announce the Ready to Read component of the Just Read, Florida! Initiative. Early childhood reading readiness is crucial as the foundation for academic success, especially for at-risk children. Ready to Read will focus on three areas: partnering with local readiness coalitions, research-based training for preschool teachers, and the promotion of reading with parents and families. The Florida Partnership for School Readiness is working tirelessly with local coalitions to encouraging reading at the preschool level and I am excited by the prospects of this initiative.
On Thursday, I attended the Florida Executive Leadership Luncheon held at the Governor's Mansion. I shared with new Florida executives that our economy is still strong. Florida, with 560,000 new jobs since 1998, is one of the national leaders in job growth. We rank fifth in the nation for high-tech jobs. The tourism industry is back on track, which signifies that consumer and business confidence in Florida has rebounded.
I would like to take this time to assure all Floridians that despite relentless media misrepresentations, Florida's schools and students are improving. Minority students in particular are showing greater proficiency in reading. We have proposed a 6 percent per-student increase in public school funding this year, the first $1 billion increase in Florida history. And our Just Read, Florida! initiative aims to build on our success so far by helping our most struggling students learn to read.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely, Jeb Bush
CELEBRATING FLORIDA'S FIRST LADY First Lady Columba Bush was awarded the Helen. A. Davis Award for her outstanding service benefiting children at the Children's Home 13th Annual Recognition Luncheon in Tampa Tuesday. The Children's Home is Florida's second oldest child-caring agency and the West Coast's oldest charity and is celebrating its' 110th year of service to children and families. Named in honor of Helen Ayala Davis, one of the community's most notable philanthropists and a leader of many charitable endeavors, the award was established in 1989 by the Children's Home to recognize citizens who have performed outstanding service benefiting children. The First Lady's volunteer work includes:
1. Arts for a Complete Education/Florida Alliance for Arts Education (ACE/FAAE ) - The vision and mission of ACE/FAAE is for every child in every school in Florida to receive a well-rounded education that includes a comprehensive, sequential, high-quality program of arts instruction. The First Lady personally supports the program by traveling to schools across the state to draw attention to the variety of arts education programs Florida's public schools have to offer.
2. Children's Cultural Education Fund of the Ballet Folklorico - This organization, co-founded by Mrs. Bush, raises money for the national dance troupe of Mexico. The foundation sponsors free performances of the Ballet Folklorico for school-aged children across the United States.
3. Informed Families of Florida - Informed Families of Florida is a non-profit organization involved in educating families about the perils of drug abuse. The First Lady is currently a spokesperson and a member of the organization.
4. House of Hope - House of Hope is a Christian non-denominational residential school for troubled teenagers in Orlando. Mrs. Bush is on the National House of Hope Advisory Council.
5. The Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free - The Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free is a multi-year public-private initiative to raise awareness of the problem of alcohol use among 9- to 15-year olds and to make prevention of alcohol use by children a national priority.
6. Governor's Mentoring Initiative - The First Lady mentors an elementary student in Tallahassee once a week as part of the Governor's Mentoring Initiative.
To learn more about Florida's First Lady or these organizations, please visit www.myflorida.com.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION Governor Bush signed many pieces of legislation into law this week, most notably ones that strengthen Florida's animal cruelty laws, improves the Homestead exemption process for persons 65 or older, and guarantees Floridians' right to fly the United States flag.
Senate Bill 1002, the Cruelty To Animals bill which received overwhelming, bi-partisan support, was sponsored by Senator Jim King and Representative Jeff Kottkamp. In an effort to thwart the most egregious of offenders, this legislation would increase the existing punishment for a third degree felony of animal cruelty by requiring an individual convicted of a second offense to pay a minimum mandatory fine of $2,500 and serve a minimum jail time of three months. A third or subsequent offense would require the payment of a $5,000 fine and minimum mandatory jail time of six months. Additionally, if a person were convicted of knowingly carrying out an act of animal cruelty, they would be ordered to complete an anger management treatment program, in addition to any other sentence imposed.
Senate Bill 2014 simplifies Florida's current filing process for the additional property tax homestead exemption, for low-income persons aged 65 and older. It also eliminates the annual filing requirement. Senator Howard Futch of Melbourne Beach and Representative Mitch Needelman of Melbourne sponsored this legislation. Under current law, counties and cities may grant an additional property tax homestead exemption to low-income persons, 65 and older. This bill revises the supporting documents and statements of household income that are required to obtain the additional homestead exemption and eliminates yearly submission by homeowners to the property appraiser.
Senate Bill 148 guarantees Floridians' right to fly the United States flag at their homes, regardless of rules set by a homeowners' association. The bill, an act relating to the Display of the United States Flag, was filed to address arbitrary rules enacted by homeowner associations to prevent flying of the American flag. It also allows homeowners to file a suit if prevented from flying the flag in a reasonable, respectful manner. Senate Bill 148 was sponsored by Senator Steven Geller and Representative Eleanor Sobel and was co-sponsored by Senators Tom Lee, Daryl Jones, Ginny Brown-Waite, Al Lawson, Les Miller Jr., Ron Klein, Ron Silver, Rod Smith, Richard Mitchell, Skip Cambell, Kendrick Meek, and Representatives Eleanor Sobel, Matt Meadows, Dennis Baxley, Nancy Detert, Don Brown, Mike Fasano, Mike Hogan, Paula Dockery, Will Kendrick, Roger Wishner.
For information on all the bills Governor Bush signed into law this week, please visit www.myflorida.com. PRESS RELEASES DELETED BY FLORIDUH VOTER.
ON DECK... Governor's Schedule For Next Week Monday Governor's Office - Tallahassee Tuesday Governor's Office - Tallahassee Wednesday Governor's Office - Tallahassee Thursday Governor's Office - Tallahassee Friday Orlando
Lt. Governor's Schedule For Next Week Monday Lt. Governor's Office - Tallahassee Tuesday Lt. Governor's Office - Tallahassee Wednesday Lt. Governor's Office - Tallahassee Thursday Lt. Governor's Office - Tallahassee Friday Lt. Governor's Office - Tallahassee
GOVERNOR'S POINTS OF LIGHT AWARDS At only 10 years old, Britney Murphy's efforts played a key role in renaming Broward General Medical Center to the Children's Hospital by writing a letter highlighting how instrumental a children's hospital would be to the community. "It was a very moving letter and detailed clearly why having a children's hospital would help children feel better and how it would help their doctors and nurses focus on each child's special needs," said Paul Sallarulo, Chairman of the NBHD Board of Commissioners. "Britney attended a board meeting to personally present her case on behalf of all children. The NBHD Board of Commissioners unanimously supported her proposal and changed the name of Broward General's pediatric center to Children's Hospital." Britney is a cancer patient at the Children's Hospital at Broward General Medical Center.
Throughout her illness she has been an ambassador and an advisor to adults in her community, speaking out on behalf of children, families and their caregivers. She volunteers in the Cancer Center as a member of the Children's Advisory Council for the Children's Hospital and has appeared before the Fort Lauderdale Planning and Zoning Board to present her personally drafted recommendation to permit the expansion of Broward General Medical Center. Britney Murphy is this week's Points of Light Award winner. Congratulations, Britney!
Want to nominate an outstanding volunteer in your community? Simply go to www.myflorida.com to download a nomination form or call (850) 921-5172.
Floriduh Voter recommends that everybody sign up for the e-newsletter from http//www.myflorida.com. They are created on Fridays and show up in your regular email the following week. Then you'd see the press releases that I deleted in the interest of saving myself editing time. Jeb even commented regarding the train wreck in Putnum County.
