ANATIVE TEXAN, Jeb Bush moved to Florida in 1980. He was governor of the Sunshine State from 1999 to 2007, where he quickly became known as a champion of school choice. In 2016, he made an unsuccessful run for president. Now he resides in Miami-Dade County, retired from political life. A self-proclaimed “old-school conservative with libertarian blood running through my veins,” Bush is frustrated by the “cyclical world” we live in where “people are very comfortable with advocating government solutions to everything.”
Reason’s Nick Gillespie spoke with Bush in October about how Florida has become home for many people—from in and outside of the U.S.—who are looking for less government intervention in their everyday lives.
Reason: Florida has become the fastest-growing state in the country. What explains Florida’s growth as a destination for people wanting to move there, live there, and work there?
Bush: I think Florida works pretty good. Whatever problems we have pale in comparison to other states. No disrespect to the Northeast, but if you have business up there like I do, and you go and you drive, you’re going to get a broken back basically trying to go from here to there. The infrastructure is decayed; the challenges are immense. And you come
