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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 2, 2002
Taxes
JEB BUSH: Opposes tax increases but warns that taxes may rise if a class size amendment passes. Pushed $4-billion in tax cuts through the Legislature the past four years.
BILL McBRIDE: Favors a 50-cent per pack cigarette tax for education and eliminating some tax exemptions. Criticizes previous tax cuts for draining a state surplus.
BUSH: Uses standardized tests to grade schools, offers vouchers to students in failing schools and rewards schools that improve.
McBRIDE: Favors standardized tests but says they should be used to evaluate students' strengths and weaknesses, not grade schools. Opposes vouchers.
BUSH: Supports.
McBRIDE: Opposes.
BUSH: Supports.
McBRIDE: Supports. Favors temporary moratorium to improve system and ensure innocent people are not executed.
BUSH: Supports current law that requires felons to apply to the governor and Cabinet to restore voting rights.
McBRIDE: Supports automatic restoration of rights.
BUSH: Opposes.
McBRIDE: Supports.
BUSH: Opposes. Supports a "seamless" approach in which one governing board oversees all education, kindergarten to postgraduate studies.
McBRIDE: Supports. Favors a statewide board to establish policy and spend money for the 11 public universities only.
BUSH: Supports, but in two attempts could not get the Legislature to agree.
McBRIDE: Supports.
McBRIDE: Would search nationally for a new department head, reduce turnover by raising salaries and reduce case loads
BUSH: Opposes. Created One Florida initiative that eliminated affirmative action in university admissions and state procurement.
McBRIDE: Supports. Would dismantle One Florida plan.
BUSH: Opposes further restrictions on raising campaign contributions; opposes public financing for state campaigns; supports instant on-line reporting of contributions.
McBRIDE: Favors further restrictions on big money contributions.
BUSH: Opposes.
McBRIDE: Supports.
BUSH: Supports limiting awards of noneconomic damages, also known as pain and suffering, in medical malpractice cases.
McBRIDE: Opposes limiting those awards.
BUSH: Supports giving local governments more power to decide where growth should occur.
McBRIDE: Says the state should oversee local governments' work to ensure a regional view.
BUSH: Signed bill that limits citizens' right to challenge development.
McBRIDE: Says he would work to overturn the law and restore citizens' rights.