Potential 2016 candidate Jeb Bush talks conservative values at Vegas event

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Monday told a crowd of about 400 people in Las Vegas that he applies conservative values — not just talks about them — as he seriously considers a run for president in 2016.

Bush said he’s done something “that is kind of unusual in Washington world”: He’s had the chance to sign the front side of a paycheck and experience how businesses are formed, how jobs are created and how risk-takers, looking to create businesses, are important for the economy.

He also talked about his accomplishments in Florida during eight years as governor.

“We cut taxes every year, totaling $19 billion,” he said. “Every year there was a tax cut or more than one, we reduced the state’s work force in government by about 13,000 or 15,000 and we increased the number of jobs — not me, but the private sector did — by 1.4 million net new jobs during those eight years.”

His comments came during an event at the Mountain Shadows Community Center in Sun City Summerlin as the Republican contemplates a campaign to follow his father and brother into the Oval Office. The theme of the event was restoring the promise of America. It was open to the public.

Bush said Florida was better off at the end of his tenure as governor as a result of his conservative approach. The unemployment rate was at 3 percent, and the state had $9 million in reserves for a rainy day. His conservative principles created a business environment that generated revenue for state government, not the other way around, he said.

“I think that’s a lesson that is quite important as we look at the future of Washington, D.C. It seems like they have no discipline as it relates to budget, no discipline about reforming things that may have worked 50 years ago but now are totally broken.”

Bush also spoke about economic policy, the need to bring back leadership to Washington, domestic and foreign policy, immigration and education.

He said President Barack Obama has failed the country in economic policy and used his executive authority to create more rules, more spending, higher taxes and greater uncertainty.

“That’s why our economy is hurting,” Bush said.

This country needs an economy that grows at a sustained rate so the middle class “is no longer squeezed,” he said.

Bush is considered one of the top Republican prospects for 2016.

“If I go beyond consideration, I will offer ideas,” he told the crowd, adding that those ideas wouldn’t be about scaring people or dividing people but powerful ideas so that people can rise up.

Monday’s event, which lasted about 40 minutes, concluded with questions from the audience. It was sponsored by Bush’s new Right to Rise political action committee, according to a flier.

Bush took photos with attendees at the end of the event.

The community center, with a capacity of about 400, was completely full, with a few dozen people standing in the back and on the sides. Most of the attendees were senior citizens. The audience cheered as Bush arrived.

Bush is just the latest potential White House contender to visit Nevada, which holds the first GOP presidential caucus in the West and is one of four early voting states along with Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., visited Las Vegas earlier this month to sign his new book, “American Dreams: Restoring Economic Opportunity for Everyone.”

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., also came to Las Vegas earlier this year.

A couple dozen Republicans are considering presidential bids in 2016, but Bush, Rubio and Paul are considered the top early prospects and most likely to announce official campaigns.

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the Democratic frontrunner, although she has not officially announced her campaign. Clinton has also visited Las Vegas several times in recent months.

Contact Yesenia Amaro atyamaro@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440. Find her on Twitter: @YeseniaAmaro.