SOUTH PORTLAND — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush urged Maine’s conservative legislators and decision makers on Thursday to take the initiative and propose bold reforms in order to advance their cause.

Bush, the president's brother who left office in January, cited his education and tax reform efforts in Florida as examples of successful change.

“This is a really important time in this great country,” he said to about 300 people attending a lunch held by the Maine Heritage Policy Center, a conservative think tank. The rapid changes in technology, shifting economies and markets and the “jihadist threat” have created an environment of angst and deep uncertainty across the country, he said.

“This creates an opportunity for conservatives to advance our cause,” said Bush. “It is important for conservatives to lead the way and to have a zeal for reform .... If we lead, people will be drawn to conservative principles beyond reform.”

Bush said conservatives will make gains by adhering to bedrock principles of limiting government, cutting taxes and urging personal responsibility. Known for his focus on education reform, Bush spent much of his time discussing the highlights of Florida’s education reform efforts, from eliminating social promotion to financially rewarding successful teachers.

“The interesting part of this climate of reform is that reform begets reform,” he said, adding that one benefit is that people lose their “fear” of big ideas.
“If we could make the fear of change into the cowardice of *not* changing, imagine what the world would look like,” he said. “It’s worth fighting for.”