Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush officially launched a new fundraising organization called the “Right To Rise PAC” that will allow him to raise and spend money for political activities in his latest step toward a 2016 presidential bid.
The Florida Republican posted a video on Instagram and Facebook describing the PAC as a means to “support candidates that support conservative principles to allow all Americans to rise up.” The organization has also set up a website, RightToRisePAC.org, to solicit donations.
[quote text_size=”small” author=”– Jeb Bush” author_title=”Former Governor of Florida”]
We believe the income gap is real, but that only conservative principles can solve it by removing the barriers to upward mobility… We will strive to put our fiscal house back in order, re-limit government and ensure that America is a welcoming society.
[/quote]
Bush referenced the PAC’s name in an October 2013 speech at the Jack Kemp Foundation, saying the solution to a systemic problem in that people who are born poor typically stay poor is restoring the “Right to Rise,” or the “right to pursue economic opportunity and happiness,” according to Bloomberg.
The phrase has also been used by Gabor Boritt, a professor of history at Gettysburg College and expert on former President Abraham Lincoln. Boritt described this concept as the cornerstone of the president’s philosophy and the freedom of upward mobility as an American ideal.
Since he began considering a White House bid, Bush has resigned from his corporate and nonprofit board memberships, including that of his own education foundation. He has also promised to release thousands of emails from his time as Florida governor, where he served from 1999 to 2007, according to the Washington Post.
A leadership PAC works as an operation for presidential hopefuls and politicians. PAC contributions are limited to $5,000 per donor, and the money may be used to pay for PAC employees and expenses, or to disburse to other candidates.
Fundraising events have already been planned in Florida, New York and Washington, D.C. in the coming weeks, as well as meetings with major donors, according to Fox News.
