Subject: FACT CHECK: Jeb Bush's Florida Record Put Himself First and the Middle Class On The Back-Burner
From: DNC Press <[email-masked]>
To: DNC Press <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 16:16:11 +0000

<factivists.democrats.org/fact-check-jeb-bushs-florida-record-put-himself-first-and-the-middle-class-on-the-back-burner-2/>

FACT CHECK: Jeb Bush's Florida Record Put Himself First and the Middle Class On The Back-Burner

In a new ad today released by Jeb Bush's Super PAC, viewers are presented with distorted facts from Bush's Florida record: one that was plagued by tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and cuts to programs that helped the middle class, all in an effort to put those like Jeb Bush over everyday Floridians.

"Jeb Bush's economic policies are, and have always been, geared towards helping those at the very top. As governor of Florida, Jeb Bush slashed taxes by billions, largely benefitting the wealthy and corporations, and vetoed programs that would have helped the middle class get ahead. We know what to expect from a failed Bush administration - not only because we have seen it twice already in the White House, but because we have experienced it in Tallahassee as well." - DNC spokeswoman Christina Freundlich

Claim

Fact

NARRATOR: As governor, he helped create 1.3 million new jobs

ONSCREEN: 1.3 MILLION NEW JOBS
Bureau of Labor Statistics

JEB BUSH'S FLORIDA GROWTH WAS LARGELY DUE TO A HOUSING BUBBLE, THAT THEN BURST

HEADLINE: "A Housing Bubble Made Jeb Bush Look Great - And Then It Tanked Florida's Economy." [Washington Post, 6/16/15<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/06/16/a-housing-bubble-made-jeb-bush-look-great-and-then-it-tanked-floridas-economy/>]

Economist At The Conservative American Enterprise Institute: A "Huge Stretch" For Jeb Bush To Maintain Florida's Economy During His Tenure Was A Model For The Nation, Adding It Likely Could Not Be Replicated "In Any Sustainable Fashion." "It is a 'huge stretch' for Bush to hold up Florida's growth as a model for the country, said Stan Veuger, an economist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute who is not affiliated with any presidential campaign. 'I don't think you can replicate that growth, from a state with one of the hottest housing markets in the nation, in any sustainable fashion,' he said." [Washington Post, 7/27/15<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/under-jeb-bush-housing-prices-fueled-floridas-boom-then-it-all-went-bust/2015/07/27/3cb40da2-2409-11e5-b72c-2b7d516e1e0e_story.html>]

Wall Street Journal: "Bush's Florida Growth Record Was Based In Large Part On A Housing Bubble...That Exploded The Year He Left Office In 2007." "Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says he can deliver 4% annual economic growth as president - about twice as fast as the U.S. has been growing recently. Why is he so confident? During his 1999-2007 tenure as governor, Florida grew 4.4%, his campaign boasts. Today it even unveiled a cute graphic illustrating the claim. The trouble is, say some economists, Gov. Bush's Florida growth record was based in large part on a housing bubble - national in scope but particularly frothy in Florida - that exploded the year he left office in 2007." [Wall Street Journal, 7/7/15<http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/07/07/floridas-economic-leap-under-jeb-bush-helped-by-housing-bubble-economists-say/>]

Moody's Chief Economist Mark Zandi Said Jeb Bush's 4 Percent Annual Growth In Florida "Wasn't Sustainable" And Was "Something Temporary" Due To The Housing Bubble. "Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi, a housing expert, says Florida's economy in the early 2000s isn't a model for U.S. growth over the coming years. 'The growth in Florida wasn't sustainable,' he said. 'It was something temporary' due to the housing bubble." [Wall Street Journal, 7/7/15<http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/07/07/floridas-economic-leap-under-jeb-bush-helped-by-housing-bubble-economists-say/>]

NARRATOR: He vetoed billions in government spending

ONSCREEN: VETOED BILLIONS IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING

STATE SPENDING BALLOONED UNDER JEB BUSH

Miami Herald: Jeb Bush "Ballooned" The State Budget By $22 Billion, Increased State Debt By Over $8 Billion, and Increased Debt Service Payments By Roughly $800 Million. "Meanwhile during Bush's term, the state budget ballooned from $49 billion to $71 billion, much of it as a result of a robust economy. The state's debt also grew - from $15 billion to more than $23 billion and the annual debt service payments rose from $928 million to $1.7 billion." [Miami Herald, 7/20/15<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/07/jeb-vows-to-take-on-bureaucracy-and-revolving-door-of-influence-if-elected.html>]

*         1999-2007: Jeb Bush Increased Total State Spending By 45 Percent, From $45.6 Billion To $66.1 Billion. "The basic story from the Cato reports is that Jeb Bush was a prolific tax cutter, but he let spending rise quickly toward the end of his tenure. Like George W. Bush, Jeb was good on taxes, but apparently not so good on spending. Jeb Bush was in office from 1999 to 2007. Florida general fund spending increased from $18.0 billion to $28.2 billion during those eight years, or 57 percent. Total state spending increased from $45.6 billion to $66.1 billion, or 45 percent. (This is NASBO data from here and here). Over those eight years, Florida's population grew 16 percent and the CPI, which measures inflation, grew 24 percent." ["Jeb Bush's Fiscal Record," Cato Institute, 4/9/14<http://www.cato.org/blog/jeb-bushs-fiscal-record>]

JEB BUSH SAW FLORIDA'S OUTSTANDING DEBT INCREASE BY BILLIONS

Jeb Bush Saw Florida's Outstanding Debt Rise From $15 Billion To Over $23 Billion While He Was In Office And The State's Annual Debt Service Payments Rose From $928 Million To $1.7 Billion. "Running for re-election last year, Gov. Scott never let a day pass without reminding voters that he had paid down Florida's outstanding debt, in contrast to rival Charlie Crist. 'Crist maxed out the state credit card. Scott reduced state debt by $3 billion,' one TV ad intoned, noting that debt rose by $5.2 billion while Crist was governor during the global recession. Paying down Florida's debt is not something Bush can boast about. While he was in office, Florida's outstanding debt rose from $15 billion to more than $23 billion. The state's annual debt service payments rose from $928 million to $1.7 billion. 'There's no question he was a borrow-and-spend conservative. That's who he was,' said former state Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, a Democrat who contends Bush was much more a genuine social conservative than a fiscal conservative." [Tampa Bay Times, 5/1/15<http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/what-you-dont-know-about-jeb-bushs-economic-record/2227912>]

NARRATOR: He cut taxes $19 billion

ONSCREEN: Cut taxes $19 billion

JEB BUSH CUT TAXES FOR THE WEALTHY AND BUSINESSES AS GOVERNOR

National Journal: Under Jeb Bush's Tax Policy, "The Richest Slice Of Floridians Benefited The Most," As He Eliminated A Tax On Stocks, Bonds, And Other Financial Instruments Borne By "The Wealthiest 4.6 Percent Of Residents" That Was "The Only Progressive Levy Florida Had." "But the issue that most directly affected Floridians' income was [Jeb] Bush's tax policy, and in that area, the richest slice of Floridians benefited the most. Bush ultimately succeeded in eliminating a tax on stocks, bonds and other financial instruments. But because savings and checking accounts, retirement accounts, and investment holdings totaling less than $60,000 for a married couple were exempt, the tax was actually borne by the wealthiest 4.6 percent of residents-those rich enough to have substantial investments outside of their 401(k)s and IRAs. In a state without an income tax, it was the only progressive levy Florida had." [National Journal, 4/30/15<http://www.nationaljournal.com/2016-elections/jeb-bush-income-inequality-20150430>]

HEADLINE: "As Governor, Jeb Bush Catered Tax Cuts To The Wealthy." [Tax Analysts, Martin Sullivan, Forbes, 4/21/15<http://www.forbes.com/sites/taxanalysts/2015/04/21/as-governor-jeb-bush-catered-tax-cuts-to-the-wealthy/>]

Forbes: Jeb Bush's Intangibles Tax Cuts Were "By Far The Largest Component" Of His Tax Cuts, "Larger Than The Combined Cuts In Sales Taxes, Property Taxes, And The Corporate Tax." "Data compiled by Tax Analysts show that cuts in intangibles taxes were by far the largest component of legislated revenue reductions enacted during Jeb Bush's eight years as governor. Official estimates of revenue legislation in Florida cover the first two years of enactment. Figure 1 divides those two-year estimates of legislation enacted in each year into two categories: reduction in the intangibles tax and all other revenue legislation. Figure 2 sums up over eight years the estimates shown in Figure 1. Cuts in the intangibles taxes were three times larger than cuts in any other category. Cuts in intangibles taxes were larger than the combined cuts in sales taxes, property taxes, and the corporate tax." [Tax Analysts, Martin Sullivan, Forbes, 4/21/15<http://www.forbes.com/sites/taxanalysts/2015/04/21/as-governor-jeb-bush-catered-tax-cuts-to-the-wealthy/>]

*         Intangibles Tax Was Levied On "Stocks, Bonds And Notes Largely Held By Well-Off Investors." "TAX BREAKS Bush wants to give Floridians the second-largest tax break in state history - a $578 million package including a weeklong tax-free shopping holiday, repeal of a per-drink tax on alcohol and a continued phase out of the intangible tax on stocks, bonds and notes held largely by well-off investors. Lawmakers also want to make more goods tax-free - from baby and adult diapers, infant car seats and smoke detectors to the kibble greyhounds eat." [Miami Herald, 3/5/00]

*         Forbes: "When It Comes To Tax Policy, The Bush Family Has One Thing In Common: They Like To Cut Taxes On Investors." [Tax Analysts, Martin Sullivan, Forbes, 4/21/15<http://www.forbes.com/sites/taxanalysts/2015/04/21/as-governor-jeb-bush-catered-tax-cuts-to-the-wealthy/>]

AND FLORIDA INCOME INEQUALITY WORSENED SIGNIFICANTLY DURING JEB BUSH'S TENURE

1998-2006: Average Income Of The Richest 5 Percent Of Florida Families Increased By 22.1 Percent, While The Average Income Of The Poorest Fifth Of Florida Families "Did Not Change Significantly." [Florida Fact Sheet, "Pulling Apart: A State-By-State Analysis Of Income Trends," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 4/9/08<http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=255>]

2006: Average Income Of The Top 5 Percent Of Florida Families Was 12.6 Times That Of The Bottom 20 Percent. "The gap between the wealthiest and poorest families has been widening. In 1987-1989 the average income of the top 5% was 9.4 times the bottom 20%, and by 2004-2006 it had grown to 12.6 times." ["The Growing Divide: Income Inequality and its Effects on Florida's Families," Florida International University Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy, 4/9/08<http://web.archive.org/web/20081230081942/http:/www.risep-fiu.org/reports/Growing_Divide_2008.pdf>]

NARRATOR: ...balanced 8 budgets...

ONSCREEN:
Balanced 8 state budgets

JEB BUSH WAS CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET

Florida Constitution Required That The Governor Ensure That "No Deficit Occurs In Any State Fund." "Florida Constitution Provision shall be made by law for raising sufficient revenue to defray the expenses of the state for each fiscal period. Article 7, Section 1(d): Statutes: All appropriations shall be maximum appropriations, based upon the collection of sufficient revenues to meet and provide for such appropriations. It is the duty of the Governor, as chief budget officer, to ensure that revenues collected will be sufficient to meet the appropriations and that no deficit occurs in any state fund." [State Constitutional and Statutory Requirements for Balanced Budgets, National Conference of State Legislatures, accessed 7/8/15<http://www.ncsl.org/research/fiscal-policy/state-constitutional-and-statutory-requirements-fo.aspx>]

NARRATOR: ...and shrank state government.

ONSCREEN: "...a small government conservative..."

JEB BUSH'S SPENDING CUTS CAME PRIMARILY FROM HIGHER EDUCATION AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

Jeb Bush's Spending Cuts Came Mostly From Public Assistance, Higher Education, And Other Discretionary Spending. "Though he's criticized by conservatives as 'too moderate,' the former Florida governor cut spending by an average of 1.39 percent each year he was in office. Most cuts came from 'public assistance,' higher education, and state discretionary spending." [Fox News, 8/28/15<http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/08/28/fact-check-which-republican-candidates-actually-cut-spending/>]

JEB BUSH'S OUTSOURCING OF GOVERNMENT ENRICHED LOBBYISTS AND CONTRACTORS

Miami Herald: "The Share Of The State Budget  'Outsourced ' To Private Companies Exploded Under [Jeb] Bush -- And So Did The Tallahassee's Cottage Industry Of Executive Branch Lobbyists." [Miami Herald, 7/20/15<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/07/jeb-vows-to-take-on-bureaucracy-and-revolving-door-of-influence-if-elected.html>]

Tampa Bay Times: "The State Workforce Shrunk But The Constellation Of Companies Who Could Profit Off Government Grew And The Result Paid Political Dividends." [Tampa Bay Times, 7/20/15<http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/jeb-bush-returns-to-tallahassee-to-target-washington-and-pitch-ideas/2237969>]

*         Jeb Bush Privatized Hundreds Of State Services As Governor, Steering At Least $667 Million In State Services And 9,787 Jobs To Private Companies. "Bush blasted the federal civil service system as 'ruled by inertia ' where  'people are hired, promoted, and given pay increases often without regard to performance.' As governor from 1998-2006, Bush reduced the state workforce by shifting state jobs to private contractors and privatizing hundreds of state services. The exercise angered state employee unions and, according to a Miami Herald analysis, steered at least $667 million in state services and 9,787 jobs to private companies." [Miami Herald, 7/20/15<http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/07/jeb-vows-to-take-on-bureaucracy-and-revolving-door-of-influence-if-elected.html>]

Florida Tax Watch's Dominic Calabro Said Jeb Bush's Outsourcing As Governor Was "Often Done Too Quickly And Not Too Well." "And there are inconsistencies. In Detroit, he said Washington must 'embrace reform everywhere, especially in our government.' In Florida he spoke of smaller government too-yet grew the state's budget 52% on his watch, from $48.6 billion in 1999 to $73.9 billion in 2006. This rate of growth exceeded that of the state's economy, notes Dominic Calabro of Florida Tax Watch, a non-partisan watchdog. And while he cut the state payroll, many services those workers did were merely outsourced to private companies with little oversight; multi-million dollar cost overruns often resulted. 'There were problems with planning and execution,' says Calabro.'It was often done too quickly and not too well, but most things he outsourced got better over time.' The mistakes he made in haste and lessons learned could bode well if Bush, as president, tries to outsource parts of the federal government-God knows much of it certainly can be." [Paul Brandus, MarketWatch, 2/23/15<http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-far-right-fears-jeb-bushs-success-2015-02-23>]

NARRATOR: He took on unions and won

ONSCREEN: "...took on the teachers union..."

JEB BUSH WENT AFTER TEACHER UNIONS

St. Petersburg Times Editorial: "Jeb Bush...Treated Education As A Battlefield On Which Teachers Were Often Branded The Enemy." "To win the job of Florida education commissioner, Eric Smith did his homework. That he spoke at such length about the need for teamwork in school reform is clear evidence. It also is most welcome. As Smith no doubt discovered, Florida is still smarting from a Governor, Jeb Bush, who treated education as a battlefield on which teachers were often branded the enemy. Worse, that culture of warfare spilled over into the Department of Education, the agency that is supposed to provide professional oversight and support to schools. The previous state Education Board chairman would tell people 'we're under attack,' as though it inspired him." [Editorial, St. Petersburg Times, 10/11/07]

Former Jeb Bush K-12 Chancellor Jim Warford Said Bush's Objective With Vouchers Was To "Paint The Teachers Union Into A Corner And Make Them Look Bad." "But Bush's relentless push for vouchers and charters also permanently poisoned his relationship with some teachers unions and local school systems, which saw the movement as an attack. Warford, who met with Bush regularly during his time as chancellor, said the administration never recovered from the enmity generated during those early fights. 'The objective was the paint the teachers union into a corner and make them look bad,' said [Former Jeb Bush K-12 Chancellor Jim] Warford, now the executive director of the Florida Association of School Administrators." [Miami Herald, 8/6/06]

JEB BUSH'S FLORIDA RANKED LOW IN TEACHER SALARY AND PER PUPIL SPENDING

2006: Miami Herald: "Florida Remains Below The National Average In Starting Teacher Pay And Average Teacher Pay." "There remain a few facts regarding education funding that continue to nip at Bush. The amount of per-pupil spending in Florida remains mired in the bottom tier. Education Week, using 2002 data, the latest available, ranked the state 47th in terms of per-pupil funding that was adjusted for regional differences. When Bush came into office in January 1999, the statewide per-pupil average was $4,727, according to the Department of Education website. This fall, the statewide average is expected to be $6,789. Florida remains below the national average in starting teacher pay and average teacher pay, although Education Week ranked Florida 21st nationally in terms of starting pay and 29th in average pay." [Miami Herald, 8/6/06]

*         2004-05: Florida Ranked 42nd In Teacher-Student Ratio And Per-Capita Spending. "Four years ago, when voters approved class-size restrictions, Florida had ranked 49th among states and Washington, D.C., in graduation rates, last in the nation in per-capita spending and 44th in student-teacher ratios. In 2003-04, the most recent year for which data is available, Florida's rank ranged from 43rd to 46th in graduation rates. In 2004-05, again the most recent year for which data was available, the state's rank both in student-teacher ratio and per-capita spending was 42nd." [Palm Beach Post, 12/24/06]

JEB BUSH'S TEACHER PERFORMANCE PAY PROGRAM WAS ROLLED BACK BY REPUBLICANS

2007: Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida Legislative Leaders Agreed To Change Teacher Performance Pay Program, "In A Major Reversal Of One Of Former Gov. Jeb Bush's Most Controversial Education Policies." "In a major reversal of one of former Gov. Jeb Bush's most controversial education policies, Florida legislative leaders agreed Wednesday to change the way teachers are awarded bonuses. Under the new plan, which legislators say they hope to have to Gov. Charlie Crist for signing by next week, student scores on the Florida Comprehensive Test would no longer be the only factor determining whether teachers get a share of around $150 million a year in special bonuses. Recommendations from principals will count for 40 percent, while FCAT results will carry 60 percent of the weight in deciding one-time raises.  Even more significantly, the new plan would allow all teachers to be eligible for the bonuses, not just those whose classes score in the top 25 percent on the FCAT." [Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 3/15/07]

NARRATOR: With new accountability and over 200 new charter schools

ONSCREEN: "...a longtime champion of school choice..."

JEB BUSH'S PRIZED VOUCHER PROGRAM WAS RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL

HEADLINE: "Florida Court Strikes Down School Voucher Program." [New York Times, 1/5/06<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/05/national/05cnd-vouchers.html?pagewanted=print&_r=0>]

January 2006: Florida Supreme Court Ruled Jeb Bush's Private School Voucher Program, Known As Opportunity Scholarships, Unconstitutional In A 5-To-2 Decision. "In a ruling expected to reverberate through legal battles over school choice in many states, the Florida Supreme Court today struck down a voucher program for students attending failing schools, saying the state constitution bars Florida from using taxpayer money to finance a private alternative to the public system. The 5-to-2 ruling will shut down a program that Gov. Jeb Bush has considered one of his chief accomplishments at the close of this school year. Known as the Opportunity Scholarship Program, it currently channels taxpayer money to 750 students who have left failing public schools to enroll in private schools. But voucher proponents said today's ruling would also endanger a separate Florida voucher program in which some 16,000 disabled students participate, as well as the state's system of more than 300 charter schools, which educate some 82,000 students." [New York Times, 1/5/06<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/05/national/05cnd-vouchers.html?pagewanted=print&_r=0>]

JEB BUSH'S CHARTER AND VOUCHER PROGRAMS WERE FAR FROM ACCOUNTABLE

Florida Today Editorial: "The Voucher Programs Pushed By Gov. Jeb Bush Are Both Illegal And A Wasteful Experiment Lacking In Oversight Or Accountability." "The state of Florida has no business using public funds to pay for some students to attend private schools. That's the unequivocal -- and correct -- verdict handed down Thursday by the Florida Supreme Court in a case involving the constitutionality of a private school voucher program. The 5-2 ruling -- which cannot be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court -- applies to the Opportunity Scholarship Program that pays for about 700 children at failing Florida public schools to attend private schools with state funds. But its language is so broad it likely means two larger voucher programs used by some 27,000 students -- McKay scholarships for disabled children and corporate tax-credit vouchers -- also must be dismantled. We hope that's the case, as it's long been our view the voucher programs pushed by Gov. Jeb Bush are both illegal and a wasteful experiment lacking in oversight or accountability." [Editorial, Florida Today, 1/7/06]

2006: Florida Legislative Auditors Reported That Two-Thirds Of School District Charter Contracts "Lacked Essential Information" To Hold Them Accountable For Student Performance, With Over A Dozen Failing To Specify Any Academic Goals. "Carlo Rodriguez, head of Florida's school-choice program, said local school districts -- which monitor goals that charters set as part of their agreements to operate -- are supposed to make sure the ungraded charters perform. 'The school grade does not define the school as a whole,' Rodriguez said. 'Parents are in that school because they actively want to be there.' But auditors for the Legislature reported last year that two-thirds of charter contracts with districts 'lacked essential information' needed to hold them accountable for student performance. More than a dozen charters failed to specify any academic goals for children, auditors noted." [Orlando Sentinel, 3/25/07<http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-chday1main07mar25-story.html>]

*         2006: 43 Percent Of All Charter Schools Received No A-F Grades, Compared To 20 Percent Of Conventional Public Schools. "But like the world of conventional schools, the charter realm has its subculture of failure -- a small group of schools with low performance that persists year to year. Nine percent of charters received D's or F's last year, compared with 5 percent of regular public schools...But 43 percent of all charters received none last year, making it harder for parents to make informed decisions about a school. Only 20 percent of conventional schools were not graded. Ungraded charters generally trailed ungraded regular schools in both reading and math scores." [Orlando Sentinel, 3/25/07<http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-chday1main07mar25-story.html>]

STATE OF FLORIDA HAD LITTLE OVERSIGHT OVER MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CHARTER SCHOOL INDUSTRY

2015: Sun-Sentinel: "Unchecked Charter-School Operators Are Exploiting South Florida's Public School System, Collecting Taxpayer Dollars For Schools That Quickly Shut Down." "Unchecked charter-school operators are exploiting South Florida's public school system, collecting taxpayer dollars for schools that quickly shut down. A recent spate of charter-school closings illustrates weaknesses in state law: virtually anyone can open or run a charter school and spend public education money with near impunity, a Sun Sentinel investigation found." [Sun-Sentinel, 9/14/15<http://interactive.sun-sentinel.com/charter-schools-unsupervised/investigation.html>]

*         Miami Herald: "Florida's Charter School Movement Has Grown Into $400-Million-A-Year Powerhouse Backed By Real-Estate Developers And Promoted By Politicians, But With Little Oversight." [Miami Herald, 9/19/11<http://www.miamiherald.com/news/special-reports/cashing-in-on-kids/article1939199.html#storylink=cpy>]

NARRATOR: The state was Florida, the governor was Jeb Bush. Proven conservative, real results. Jeb.

NARRATOR: Right to Rise USA is responsible for the content of this message.

ONSCREEN: JEB
REAL RESULTS

PAID FOR BY RIGHT TO RISE USA, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF THIS MESSAGE. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE