Voters like Bush as governor, but often disagree with him on

11-17-99

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Voters generally approve of Gov. Jeb Bush's job performance, but often disagree with him on several key issues, according to a new poll. For instance, the statewide survey, commissioned by The Miami Herald and St. Petersburg Times, and released last week, found Floridians strongly favor trigger locks on guns - with 71 percent backing their use.

But conservative lawmakers in the Legislature shot down the measure last spring.

The poll also shows widespread opposition to new abortion restrictions among Floridians - although the Legislature passed and Bush signed a law requiring doctors to notify parents of teenagers seeking abortions.

With a Republican in firm control of both houses of the Legislature, some in the GOP said the questions may not have been framed right.

``Our stands on the issues reflect the philosophy we ran on that got us here,'' said House Speaker John Thrasher of Orange Park. ``We're still following the philosophy that got us elected: less taxes, limited government, more personal responsibility.''

With a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points, the telephone poll of 600 likely voters showed Bush had a 59 percent approval rating.

Pollster Rob Schroth, whose Washington, D.C.-based Schroth & Associates conducted the survey, said the first-term governor is still on his ``political honeymoon'' with Floridians.

``Voters in the early stages in a new administration give the newly elected governor the benefit of the doubt,'' Schroth said. ``Whether that's sustainable is the question.''

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