Meek advises Bush how to shrink classes

In a letter, the U.S. House member urges the governor to raise funds by reducing tax exemptions.

By STEPHEN HEGARTY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 9, 2003

Though they were adversaries in the battle over the class size amendment, when they spoke last month Gov. Jeb Bush welcomed any suggestions U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek might have for implementing the new mandate.

On Wednesday, Meek took Bush up on his offer.

In a letter he characterized as "initial recommendations," the congressman offered a few ideas he said will enable the state "to reduce class sizes without raising taxes on working families, increasing tuitions or cutting services that our seniors and children depend on."

Meek's suggestions are the same ones he and other Amendment 9 advocates made during the campaign. He urged Bush to repeal some tax exemptions, consider repealing some "corporate and special-interest tax breaks," and bond telecommunications tax money to raise $2.8-billion.

The Miami Democrat also pointed out that the state's early estimates for dealing with the first year of implementation are not far off from his estimates. During the campaign there was a multibillion-dollar gap between Meek's estimates and those from the state. Estimates ranged from $4-billion to $27.5-billion over the eight-year implementation period.

Bush campaigned vigorously against the amendment because he said it was too rigid and would cost too much. He proposed a more conservative plan that relied on bonding a portion of telecommunications tax money to pay for new classrooms.

The governor's office on Wednesday said the staff had not yet seen the letter. But spokeswoman Elizabeth Hirst added: "We're pleased to see that congressman Meek is sharing some of his thoughts about how we might be able to pay for the class size amendment here in Florida."

A spokeswoman for House Speaker Johnnie Byrd also said she hadn't seen the letter, adding that Byrd welcomed Meek's advice. Byrd opposes tax increases to pay for the mandate.

Meek's recommendations avoid mention of tax increases, relying instead on eliminating tax exemptions, which he says could save the state billions.

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