Jeb Bush bars Democrats from closed-door education meetings.

[seafan]

And this violates Florida's open meeting laws.

Bush rallies GOP on education

Governor wants lawmakers to continue policies

By Bill Cotterell


October 19, 2005

Hoping to recruit an "army" of Republican legislators to defend his education policies when he's gone, Gov. Jeb Bush privately briefed 20 GOP lawmakers Tuesday on progress Florida students have made during his tenure.

--snip

The first in what aides said would be several groups meeting with Bush on landmarks of his seven-year tenure met at 7a.m. for coffee and pastries in Bush's Capitol conference room. All were Republicans and Bush said the meeting was exempt from Florida's open-meeting laws because "we didn't talk about policy."

"We talked about where we are, where we've come from. Not everything has to be open to the press," he told two reporters who were barred. "I know that goes against your wishes but not everything has to be."

--snip

Sen. Les Miller, D-Tampa, who did not attend the meeting, said Bush is apparently trying to bolster his education programs in the Legislature - in case the next governor tries to water down FCAT or voucher use.

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/local/12937521.htm

But look what another newspaper had to say:

Governor, 20 GOP legislators meet privately on education
By STEVE BOUSQUET, Times Staff Writer
Published October 19, 2005

--snip
Bush defended holding a secret meeting with some of the Legislature's most influential members, saying there was no discussion of coming legislation.

"Not everything has to be open to the press," Bush said.

Florida has some of the strongest open meeting laws in the nation. The Constitution says "all prearranged gatherings" of more than two members of the Legislature must be open if "the purpose of which is to agree upon formal legislative action that will be taken at a subsequent time."

Bush and three legislators at the meeting said there was no talk of future legislation. A PowerPoint display released by Bush's office showed it was a detailed policy discussion and heavy on statistics.

--snip

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/19/State/Governor__20_GOP_legi.shtml

Jeb's tuition/school vouchers have been declared unconstitutional, but he is appealing before the FL Supreme Court. Thank goodness he's placed some "friendly judges" on it.

(the usual sarcasm applies..)

[havocmom]

1. Somebody needs to file suit.

Pronto!

[fooj]

2. Only Repukes get input on education?

Bullshit. Somebody needs to get in touch with "Chang" on this one!

Geez..........

Peace.

[spindrifter]

3. This is absolute

bullcr*p! Is their motto take the public out of public education? Think of all the public funding that goes into education and then tell me how you can exclude other stakeholders? This is just wrong, wrong, wrong.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. This is a blatant violation of FL Sunshine Laws

which dictate that ANY meeting of government officials must be noticed and open to the public, which happens to include Dems and the press.

[Cha]

5. jeb is such a wannbe dictator..

who put that trait in their little minds?

[snowbear]

6. Speaking of Jeb...

Does anyone think he'll wind up jumping into next year's U.S. Senate race in Florida? :scared:

His term as Gub'ner is up in '06.. and while I think Nelson can easily beat Harris.. what if Jeb was a factor?

Is that something we have to worry about? Or he is definitely not running for senate? x(

[seafan]

13. I think Katherine Harris will end up being a real problem for Jeb.

Jeb (and the WH) were pushing hard for Alan Bense, the current FL House Speaker, to run against Harris in the primary. Bense has since decided against running.

Now, the GOP is floundering for a candidate, any candidate that they could use to defeat Harris. And there ain't one anywhere in sight.

I think that there's a good chance that if Jeb tries to manhandle Harris too far, she will retaliate in ways he would rather she didn't. 2000 election, anyone?


As far as Jeb himself running against her, I would think it's unlikely, as he probably has other devious plans. He claims he wants to go home to Miami as a private citizen after next year. But Miami is where he got his start in 1980 in FL, with shady business dealings and characters, so he probably has Round 2 in mind.

Of course, all of this is just surmising.

[jbnow]

7. Well his brother

only let's Republican supporters into his town hall meetings though taxpayers pay for it all. I know that HAS to be illegal but I never hear that it is.

If george can do it jeb surely feels enabled to do it on a smaller scale.

[driver8]

9. Can't we just sent the whole Bush family to a deserted island

somewhere? I am so sick of this family and their lying, stealing, cheating...not to mention that I am sick of seeing their faces!!

[texpatriot2004]

8. Since when is EDUCATION a PARTISAN issue? nm

[Tigress DEM]

11. Witholding it from some makes those who get it better able to find ...

the American Dream etc...

[Tigress DEM]

12. Witholding it from some makes those who get it better able to find ...

the American Dream etc...

[Tigress DEM]

10. They didn't want DEMS to see the shoes go off to count past 10 ??

[elehhhhna]

14. "WHEN HE'S GONE"??? When is he leaving? VP Appointment maybe?

be afraid.

be very afraid.

[Roland99]

15. Worked for DICK Cheney and his Energy Task Force.