ASHLAND, Ohio (AP) — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said self-government, higher education and strong families are the key to effectively meeting the needs of U.S. citizens as he spoke at a scholarship fundraiser in central Ohio.

Bush, the brother of President George Bush, made remarks Thursday night to about 600 people at the Ashbrook Memorial Dinner at Ashland University. He stood in at the event for Former White House press secretary Tony Snow, diagnosed with cancer three years ago, who was sick and has canceled his scheduled appearance.

“We have to commit to limited government, which is the only government that serves people,” Bush said. “We need a zeal for reform. … We, as people, need to re-embrace personal responsibility and have more of an emphasis on self-government.”

“Government should be about empowering people and families, not about strengthening itself and growing bigger.”

Bush said cutting taxes is one way to limit government power, and also suggested discarding programs that don't work, citing the elimination of the civil service program in Florida and saying employees there can now be fired for incompetence.

He asked those in attendance to “advocate for strong family life.”

“In strong homes, children learn compassion. They learn right from wrong,” he said. “Without good homes, our children are learning survival. In Florida alone, the state was caring for 50,000 children who were either abandoned, neglected or abused. I'm sure our forefathers never envisioned there would ever be 50,000 in one state living like this.”

Ashbrook Center Executive Director Peter Schramm said the event typically raises $50,000.