Source:
APTALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Ease class-size limits — check. Cut corporate income taxes — check. End tenure for new teachers and link teacher raises to student performance — check (for now).
All of those measures, and others, championed by former Gov. Jeb Bush have been approved by the Florida Legislature or are advancing through it. The Republican left office nearly four years ago, but he's finding that as a private citizen, he's become a legislative Wizard of Oz — thunder and lightning and pulling the levers of power from behind the curtain.
"Unfortunately, this is his best legislative session ever," said state Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach. "The more right-wing proposals that eluded him as governor seem to have a lot of momentum this year."
These days, Bush, 57, lives in the Miami area, runs two foundations and a small consulting firm, delivers paid speeches and sits on the board of directors of Tenet Healthcare Corp. Often mentioned as a presidential candidate in 2012, he says he has no interest in returning to elective office.
...
"He's not in the shadows," said Patricia Levesque, executive director of Bush's Foundation for Florida's Future, which specializes in educational policy reform. "He is very public and always has been with his actions. And every year, the foundation puts out its legislative agenda."
Read more:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5icLvMVmJjRZjHSIa1pkahcWUvc5wD9F3HJB00