MY NEW YEAR MESSAGE

Florida residents showed their amazing strength and resilience in 2004 after
the fierce power of Mother Nature was unleashed upon the state. Although the
storms affected thousands of lives, we are grateful the experience did not
approach the scale of suffering in Asia caused by a giant tsunami. We join
all Americans in expressing our sympathy for the victims and families of
that tragic event. In our time of need, Florida was supported by the largest
volunteer response to a natural disaster in U.S. history. Partnerships with
local and federal agencies, as well as the private sector, stood us in good
stead in the aftermath and we were able to provide rapid and substantial
relief to impacted areas. It is partnerships like these that will help us as
we continue to rebuild, and build upon our other successes in the New Year
with the aid of our growing network of partners. Education was one area that
saw great strides last year. Voters wanted a high-quality, voluntary
pre-kindergarten program, and they will have one through private-public
partnerships. Florida's emphasis on reading instruction has helped many
children. Research by the Manhattan Institute and Education Trust showed our
school retention policies are sound and that, for the first time, the
majority of students are reading at grade level or above. With greater
involvement of our community-based care partners, adoptions are up. Crime is
down, and families are safer. Tax relief passed the $10 billion mark -
making money available for creating jobs and for hard-working families to
save, or spend on their own needs. We devised new ways to tap the private
sector's ability to provide more efficient services at lower cost, freeing
funds to be used on critical government services that help people. My
earnest hope for the new year is that it will bring peace. Meanwhile, our
service men and women who have fought so courageously in the cause of
liberty should be foremost in our thoughts and prayers.  Columba, my
children and I extend our best wishes to all Florida residents and visitors
for a glorious new year, filled with promise.