LeRoy Collins Institute Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Submitted by Kevin Derby on October 3, 2013 - 1:12pm

On Thursday, the LeRoy Collins Institute at Florida State University celebrated its 25th anniversary with a symposium in Tallahassee.

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?We are extremely pleased to be celebrating? ?25? ?years of applied? ?research that has had a great impact on? ?smarter policymaking in Florida,? ?said Lester Abberger,? the c?hairman of the LeRoy Collins Institute board.? ?To honor this milestone anniversary,? ?we are revisiting the legacy of Governor Collins,? ?a visionary leader,? ?and how his principles can continue to guide us today as we undertake impactful research to solve the myriad issues our state faces.?

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To mark the anniversary, the institute plans to release a new edition of their Tough Choices series looking at health care, pension plans for state employees, education, Medicaid and other issues.

With every? ?Tough Choices? ?report,? ?we? ?answer questions on issues of importance to the state that policymakers can draw upon to make informed decisions,? ?said Carol Weissert,? ?director of the LeRoy Collins Institute and a political science professor at Florida State University.? ?Like Governor Collins,? ?we strive to be an organization that can take an issue and,? ?putting partisanship aside,? ?conduct research that leads to rational,? ?forward-thinking solutions.??

The institute has also released a new study and video of Collins who served as governor from 1955-1961.

??With the essay and the video,? ?we hope to reintroduce to Florida citizens one of Floridas most influential leaders,? ?said Weissert.? ?No matter the issue,? ?big or small,? ?no matter what he was up against,? ?Governor Collins always sought to do what was right? ?and he ended up creating many of the building blocks of the Florida we know today.? ?His passion for this state was,? ?and remains,? ?unrivaled.? ?The Institute is proud to celebrate? ?25? ?years of success in research and policy solutions by highlighting the Collins legacy and continuing to honor Governor Collins by working to make Florida a better place.?

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