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Smith calls for fairer immigration policy
By Robert P. King

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, August 20, 2006

WEST PALM BEACH — Haitians and Cubans should receive equal treatment when fleeing oppression, gubernatorial candidate Rod Smith told a Haitian-American audience Saturday, taking on an issue that is out of the hands of Florida's governor.

"No policy can be fair that says to one community the standards are different than another community," the Democratic state senator from Alachua told more than 40 people during a half-day political forum at United Haitian Baptist Church. "And I promise you this: In our immigration policy, in our policy of reaching out with inclusion, there will be no differences between people who came here, who came here because of enormous needs and because of bravery."

Disparities in immigration policy have long rankled Haitians, who complain that the United States typically deports refugees from their country, while Cubans who make it to U.S. soil can stay. But Smith acknowledged afterward that Florida's governor has no control over federal immigration practices.

As governor, "you are the bully pulpit to represent the people of Florida on that issue, and that I would do," he said.

On issues the governor can influence, Smith called for the state to stop using scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test to grade schools or as the sole reason for keeping students from advancing. He said he opposes gay marriage — drawing applause from some in the crowd — but supports civil unions.

Smith also pledged to reduce homeowners insurance premiums and criticized Democratic rival Jim Davis' proposals for fixing a "loophole" between windstorm and flood insurance policies. Smith was responding to 11-year-old Nathae Nkumbu, a Jupiter Middle School student who asked detailed questions about homeowners' travails in trying to collect on hurricane policies.

"Pretty good," Smith told him. "I was looking for a lieutenant governor."

Smith and Davis, a U.S. representative from Tampa, face off in Florida's Sept. 5 Democratic primary.

Davis did not attend Saturday's forum, but campaign volunteer Eric Brodie gave a 3-minute speech on his behalf. Brodie told the audience that Davis would not pander to them on "cultural wedge issues" just because he was speaking in a church.

"He knows that gay marriage does not affect your personal lives nearly as much as the minimum wage does, as health care does," Brodie said. "Jim knows that you're smarter than that."