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CNN LIVE EVENT/SPECIAL

Florida Governor Jeb Bush Holds Press Conference

Aired October 16, 2001 - 14:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
AARON BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Down in Boca Raton, the Florida governor, Jeb Bush, is about to address reporters, and I gather others there, too, about the anthrax incidents that have hit American Media.

We're in one of those long introductions right now. You see Governor Bush behind -- I think that's the mayor of Boca Raton. Someone maybe can double-check that, but I think that's the case.

In any case, the governor will talk, we believe, about toughening laws having to do with anthrax.

Here's the governor of the state of Florida, Jeb Bush.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: Thank you, Steve.

It is good to be back in Boca. We talked about this. This is an incredible community, very dynamic, with a lot going on, a lot of incredibly good things going on. And under your able leadership, it is only going to get better.

So it's good to be here. And it's good to be here to get briefed on the cooperative effort. Gathered around here are a whole lot of elected officials, county, local officials, that represent a team effort. And that's exactly what has been occurring here in Boca Raton and Palm Beach County over the last few weeks.

Obviously, anthrax is a serious concern for all Americans. And we were saddened by the loss of a resident of this state and of this county and of this community, Mr. Stevens. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, one of which, by the way, a son, works as a state employee in the Department of Revenue. So this is a difficult time.

But I'm particularly proud of the cooperative effort that has been developed in the last 10 days with the FBI, the Centers for Disease Control, local and county governments, the emergency operations center, both in Tallahassee as well as in Palm Beach county. We have probably the best responders in the country as it relates to natural disasters. And those same talents now being used for this situation here in Boca.

Many people, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, state and local law enforcement officers, fire-rescue people, our hospitals, have worked together to deal with this issue. And we will continue to work together to make sure that the criminal investigation goes as quickly as possible and the public health issues are dealt with in an open, transparent way, so that people's concerns will begin to subside.

This is a new occurrence for our state and for our country. And so it is natural that people will be concerned about things that they have heard or things that they read. These are, for all of us -- unless someone here will admit they were an expert on anthrax or biological and chemical warfare, or the possibility of use of that -- this is new terrain for us.

And one of the things that has been clear, particularly in the last week, we have incredibly dedicated men and women that are serving our state, 40,000 sworn law enforcement officers, I think some 6,000 to 8,000 fire-rescue personnel. We have the Department of Health here in Palm Beach County and across the state really is doing -- they are all doing excellent work.

And yet they have to turn back from time to time, because people are calling in, concerned about a letter they may have gotten, or concerned about a phone call they may have gotten, or concerned about something they may have seen. We have asked people to call their local health departments and to call their local law enforcement when they see something unusual.

Clearly, in a free society, it is important for all of to us be vigilant. But the people that are taking advantage of the fear that exists right now in Florida and in our country by using this as a hoax to try to either have fun doing it or...

BROWN: The governor of Florida talking about hoaxes and reporting -- and the system getting taxed in that state on anthrax.

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