Crist: Progress, Not Politics
Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald
Mar 7, 2007
Gov. Charlie Crist's speech drew the loudest cheers from Democrats, with its emphasis on teacher raises, global warming and paper trails for voting machines.
TALLAHASSEE -- Including unexpected echoes of liberal icon Robert F. Kennedy and former Vice President Al Gore, Gov. Charlie Crist's first State of the State speech had Democrats cheering, Republicans applauding politely and black legislators engaging in call-and-response chants with the new governor.
The Republican governor's 32-minute speech drew on his familiar populist themes of property taxes, crime and education, then embraced a host of Democratic ideas traditionally shunned by Florida's GOP leaders.
He said Florida should invest in research into global warming and stem cell research, raise teacher pay, require voting-machine paper trails and pay the full cost of the class-size reductions voters approved four years ago. It was more proof that the Republican governor is not afraid to pull his right-leaning colleagues toward the center.
''These things are common sense,'' Crist said after the speech, which opened the 60-day legislative session. ``I don't see it as a partisan issue.''
The message was a stark contrast to the policy-laden and ideologically driven approach of Crist's predecessor, Jeb Bush. And legislators noticed.
''This is clearly a new day in Tallahassee,'' said Steve Geller of Hallandale Beach, the Senate Democratic leader.
House Speaker Marco Rubio, a West Miami Republican, called it ``by far the most optimistic first day of session in the eight that I've been a part of.''
CLASS SIZES
Sen. Alex Villalobos, a Miami Republican, noted that Crist's support of smaller classes in public schools was a sharp departure from Bush, ``who fought tooth and nail against that. . . . We're finally going to have the people's will followed, and I couldn't be happier.''
But the strongest message Crist sent won cheers from every member in the chamber -- a call to bring ''real relief'' to Florida homeowners consumed by worry over property taxes and insurance bills.
''The American dream of home ownership is being crushed under the weight of property taxes,'' Crist said. ``It will require bold and decisive leadership to reverse this trend and make the Florida dream more affordable.''
The governor introduced a video of an ailing elderly couple from Panama City who he said were ''trapped in their home'' because they couldn't afford the tax increase that would accompany a move to a smaller house.
While Crist repeated none of the details of the property tax changes he recommended a month ago, he made clear the results he expects to see.
''Whatever form of property tax relief you decide upon, it must be comprehensive, it must bring real relief to our people and it must be put before the voters this year,'' he said as legislators applauded in agreement.
The governor reminded legislators that he began his public service in the state Senate and ended his speech telling them he considers public service ''a precious gift'' that should not be marred by partisan pettiness.
''We will work together not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Floridians to make our neighborhoods more safe, improve our children's education and protect the beauty that is Florida,'' he said.
The governor also called for lawmakers to approve $300 million to raise teacher salaries, $26 million to provide more reading coaches in schools and $10 million for computer-based tutoring.
CHILDREN'S CABINET
And to raise the profile of all children's issues, Crist recommended the adoption of a long-sought idea by Democratic Sen. Nan Rich of Sunrise: the creation of a Children's Cabinet to coordinate state services for children.
''Our children must be our first priority,'' Crist said to applause.
Rich was thrilled. ''This is my seventh year in the Legislature, and this is the first time I've ever been excited about a State of the State address,'' she said.
Crist also won a standing ovation from Democrats when he declared his administration will recognize that climate change is a problem and he will convene a summit on the issue -- an idea first proposed by Democratic Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink.
He said he was ''persuaded that global climate change is one of the most important issues that we will face this century,'' and asked legislators to adopt his recommendation for $7 million to explore new technology and research for alternative fuels.
The governor introduced four Floridians whose stories, he said, illustrate the need for his proposals, including Stan Whitney, the Port Charlotte resident who wrote a letter to Crist complaining that if his insurance bill didn't go down, he would be forced to move back to his home state of Vermont.
''Stan, please rise and wave to your employees,'' Crist said as Whitney and his wife, Joan, gazed at lawmakers from the House gallery.
Crist praised the work of the Legislature during the January special session on insurance and said that because of it ``the state of our state is strong, and it is promising.''
ANTI-MURDER ACT
The governor asked lawmakers to pass, as their first bill, his so-called Anti-Murder Act, which prohibits the release of violent criminals who violate probation, unless a judge approves.
Legislators are poised to make that happen, with the full House and Senate set to pass it this week.
Crist urged legislators to adopt his recommendation for a paper trail on all voting machines and, as Democrats hooted in agreement, said Florida will ``end this controversy once and for all.''
Throughout the speech, it was Democrats who were the first to stand in ovation and Democrats who began a call-and-response to Crist's rhetorical questions.
Rep. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican and one of the most conservative members of the Legislature, said that while he disagreed with the need for paper trails in voting systems, he was generally pleased with the governor's speech, and his position on stem cell research. ''When it got right down to it, he was respectful,'' Baxley said. ``He's found common ground.''
KENNEDY REFERENCE
The governor ended his speech by modifying a Robert F. Kennedy campaign speech, saying, ``I dream of a better Florida and say, why not?''
As he asked whether Florida can be best at educating children, at leading the nation in high-paying job growth and at making life more affordable for working people, black lawmakers began to call back, saying: ``Why not?''
''If we do,'' Crist responded, future generations will ``say that this truly was a special time when good men and good women came together to . . . truly make Florida the brightest star in the American sky.''
Miami Herald staff writers Marc Caputo, Gary Fineout, Stephanie Garry, Breanne Gilpatrick and Yudy Pineiro contributed to this report.