Bush, Civil Rights Group Bury Hatchet Bush, Civil Rights Group Bury Hatchet
Thursday, March 9, 2000
Miami Herald
BY PHIL LONG
TALLAHASSEE -- One day after civil rights leaders marched on Tallahassee and bashed Gov. Jeb Bush for his controversial One Florida plan, state leaders of the NAACP met with the governor to discuss the organization's legislative agenda. Both sides said they left the private 55-minute session feeling good about the discussions. The meeting Wednesday was seen by many as proof that in politics life goes on, in marked contrast to the rancor expressed Tuesday.
``We are a civil rights organization that has a legislative agenda every year,'' said state NAACP president Adora Obi Nweze. ``We had a good exchange on the issues and the governor was happy to get our input. It was a very candid and frank meeting.'' Bush said, ``I don't have to be in complete agreement to have a dialogue. I appreciate the fact that leadership of the NAACP wanted to meet with me and we will do it on a regular basis.'' The One Florida plan was not on the table, nor were school vouchers. ``No matter who comes into this office, we have a full-blown agenda not based on One Florida. We have had education issues for years,'' Nweze said.
High on the NAACP's agenda this year is support for public education, elimination of substandard housing, increases in minimum wages and more support for the state's Commission on Human Relations and for Florida A&M, one of the state's traditionally black universities. On the key issue of reapportionment, the method of establishing U.S. and Florida legislative districts, Nweze said Bush ``offered to provide an open ear and opportunity for us to work with him and his staff to get support for us to be an integral part of making those decisions.''
The last reapportionment in 1992 led to creation of three minority districts that gave Florida its first three African-American members of Congress. The NAACP agenda includes restoration of civil rights to convicted felons, changing state laws to make generic drugs more available, as well as creation of a program that prevents police from racial profiling -- stopping cars driven by minorities because police feel they have a higher propensity to commit crimes.
The governor and the NAACP members discussed the need for having quality teacher training, increased salaries for teachers and increased funding for schools. Was it any more difficult to have the meeting given the way civil rights leaders blasted him on Tuesday? ``Absolutely not,'' Bush said. ``It was cordial. I have a relationship with most of the members there.''
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