Message from Governor Jeb Bush Saturday Night Delivery

This week I attended our second annual Florida Government Expo in Tampa, an event that gives vendors seeking business with the state the opportunity to meet representatives from all state agencies in the same setting. This year we took the opportunity to announce at the Expo our continued strong performance in doing business with minority vendors through our One Florida initiative. Governor's agencies awarded 28 percent more state contract to minority vendors than the year before, which has helped yield 232 percent increase over the three years of One Florida. State government has a whole has seen increases of 24 percent in one year and 159 percent over three years during the same period. It has never been easier as a minority vendor to do business with the State of Florida.

On Friday I traveled to Miami with Commissioner Tim Moore of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Secretary Designate Jerry Regier of the Department of Children and Families, two extraordinary leaders who are working closely together to help find missing children in our state. This effort, Operation SafeKids, will help find those children under DCF supervision who are currently missing, as well as implement procedures to help DCF better track children in its care and help marshal law enforcement's professionalism and resources when a child is missing.

Tomorrow, also in Miami, I will attend Second Wind, an event honoring the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Andrew striking South Florida. I and so many Floridians have stark memories of those days, but it nevertheless is gratifying to reflect how much we've learned about emergency preparedness in the last decade. Our experience may have been dearly bought at the time, but we are still drawing upon that experience today.

Governor Bush unveiled spending figures this week showing that state contracting with certified minority-owned businesses continues to increase under One Florida. For the third consecutive year Governor's agencies continue to award minority contracts at the highest levels ever in Florida's history. Governor Bush unveiled this year's spending figures while speaking to minority and small business owners, state vendors, purchasing professionals, city and county government employees, law enforcement personnel and educational institutional buyers at the Florida Government Expo. In FY02 (July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002), the state agencies reporting directly to the Governor spent an additional $109 million with certified minority businesses over the previous fiscal year. All other agencies and branches of government spent an additional $24 million over the previous fiscal year. The FY02 certified minority business spending total for all state government was $682 million, far exceeding the total in any previous year. In both real dollars and percentage increase, growth in spending in the Governor's agencies has far outpaced that in all other agencies over the same period of time. Between FY99 and FY02, African-American and Hispanic spending has increased by 119 percent and 258 percent, respectively. This stands in marked contrast to FY98 and FY99, years in which minority spending was supposedly protected by suspect practices rather than leadership and public accountability. In each of those two years, African-American spending actually declined, and Hispanic spending enjoyed only single-digit increases. The figures announced this week also reflect significant spending in two categories the state began measuring for the first time two years ago. The first category, "non-certified minority business," measures spending with for-profit businesses that are owned by minorities but not certified, either because the owner does not wish to undergo the certification process or the business exceeds the size limits set by state law for certified businesses. The FY02 non-certified minority business spending total for all state government was $1.536 billion. The second category, "minority non-profit," measures spending with social service organizations in which 51 percent or more of the directors, employees, or service population are minorities. The FY02 minority non-profit spending total for all state government was $1.371 billion. Combining certified minority, non-certified minority, and minority non-profit spending for all state government; the FY01 total was $3.589 billion. In an effort to ensure Floridians are aware of how One Florida benefits minority businesses and Florida students, Governor Bush also announced the launch of the One Florida website, www.oneflorida.org. The website provides information for families, students and entrepreneurs on educational and business opportunities with the state of Florida. Individuals wishing to do business with the state, can find out about the application process, certification process, certified minority business loan mobilization program, Governor's agencies 90-day spending plans and current procurement opportunities. Prospective students and their families can find out about admission requirements for the State University System, PSAT testing, the Florida College Board Partnership and the Talented 20 Program. For more information on "One Florida" contracting and the Business Spending Charts for this report, log on to www.oneflorida.org.

During his visit at the Florida Government Expo in Tampa on Thursday, Governor Bush announced the Minority Vendor of the Year Award. American Medical Depot, an Asian-American owned company, has been a certified minority vendor since 1995 and has been doing business with the state since 1993. Akhil K. Agrawal is the CEO/president of the company, which currently employs 28 people. Of those, 25 employees are minorities. The company operates out of a 26,000 square foot state-of-the-art distribution center in Hialeah, Florida. American Medical Depot is a family-owned and operated manufacturer and distributor of every major brand of medical/surgical supplies and equipment used in healthcare today. The company services over 400 healthcare providers throughout the country with leading brand name products. "We appreciate the opportunity created by the spotlight the Governor has placed on supplier diversity through his One Florida Initiative," Mr. Agrawal said. "American Medical Depot's customers find that our company is big enough to meet of all their medical supply and equipment demands, yet small enough to still care about servicing their individual business needs." American Medical Depot has been awarded state contracts from the Department of Health, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the State University System and various state hospitals including AG Holley.

Governor Bush participated in the Fourth Annual Family Care Councils Conference held in Tampa on Thursday. One aspect of the conference, sponsored in conjunction with the Florida Government Expo 2002, is focused on creating greater opportunities between the developmentally disabled and the business community. The Family Care Councils are a statewide network of individuals with developmental disabilities, their family members and guardians. The councils make recommendations to policymakers and assist in the implementation of programs focused on providing services to the disabled. "In the past, our only choice was institutionalization for our loved ones. Now we have a choice to help keep our children integrated, supported and safe," said Charm Thometz of the Family Care Council, Suncoast Region. "Governor Bush is a true friend and advocate to families and individuals with developmental disabilities. It is so refreshing for once, to finally have an administration that not only sees our pain but actually does something about it". The Governor has a strong record on protecting Florida's most vulnerable citizens, one that will continue with Jerry Regier, the newly appointed secretary designate of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Governor Bush has championed innovative approaches to improving the lives of the developmentally disabled by promoting individuality and advocating that DCF create a system focused on consumer-driven choices. Since the Bush/Brogan administration took office, funding for developmental disabilities has increased by 94 percent. The FY 02-03 budget provides $975.5 million in total funding for developmental services. As a result, DCF has served nearly 31,000 developmentally disabled citizens, an increase of 250 percent since 1998. When Governor Bush took office, less than 10,000 were receiving the full range of needed services. During today's conference, the Family Care Councils recognized Governor Bush for his commitment to the support of Florida's citizens with disabilities and bringing new hope and vision to Florida's disabled community. For more information, please visit www.myflorida.com.

Governor's Schedule For Next Week Monday Tampa - Sun City Center - Miami Thursday Orlando - Miami Friday Miami - Orlando -Jacksonville

Jeb's staffers are working on a Saturday night to get this e-newsletter out to his supporters. The paragraphs are bunched together and in the interest of time, I have left the newsletter as it was received. There should be something of interest to you to discuss with your friends and neighbors even if you have to get out a ruler to read that one lengthy section.

If Jeb staffers are working for him on a Saturday night, then, this is the least that I can do. Have a nice Sunday everybody.

I won't ping you again until the September Jeb Photo Pit Stop. I'll have some tentative debate dates posted re: Jeb vs. candidate X by then. Tim Russert is supposed to moderate one of three debates. Janet doesn't care for Tim Russert. He's very persistent - she's very resistant. FV

Kewl pic.

Yesterday, I attended a Sarasota-county Republicans BBQ at Robard's Sports Arena (in Sarasota, natch), with my wife, son and baby girl, as well as my mom. A great time was had by all, and I finally got to meet KATHERINE HARRIS! What a great person she is. I thought she'd be bigger, though... !

I copped tons of info for evaluting the candidates, got my face on TV (channel 40), t-shirts, fifteen more KH signs to plant around town (I've already used up the first ten I got), and got to ask Tom Warner some pointed questions about his alleged statements about "not caring about the Constitution if their's a terror-bomber on the loose". Oh yeah, we had some BBQ, too! A good time was had by all.

Julie, you missed it, lady!

There was some greybeard drool-dripper driving an old green Plymouth Voyager minivan around in circles outside the whole time, with all sorts of silly crap on it like "Take back Florida!", and "Make every vote count!", "Bush: the ejukashun guvner" (summer, you'd love that one), etc., etc. The sheriff outside had the same thing to say about the maroon that I did: "Hey, it's a free country and his gas to waste." The sheriff also quipped about how the guy was wrecking the environment. LOL!

Great report and it sounds like you had a great time too.

So, KH is not that big. People always look larger than life on tv. Sorry I don't get Channel 40 to see you on the tube.

I sure like to read first hand accounts when freepers attend grass roots events. Did you happen to take any pictures? Finally, re: the guy on the mini-bike who wants to Take Back Florida - take him back to the halfway house.

Get this. Jeb, Jr. looks like his dad and his brother George P. And, if you've ever seen Access Hollywood, check out entertainment reporter Billy Bush. He looks JUST LIKE his uncle Dubya. You just wouldn't believe it. I don't know whose kid he is - maybe Neil's.

Jeb is a head taller than older brother POTUS. He often mentions their mom i.e. "If I don't say this or do this, I'll hear from mom." Meanwhile, mom is campaigning around Florida for Jeb. She has her own fans too - she can get out the senior vote for Jeb IMO.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.