BY PETER WALLSTEN AND LESLEY CLARK

 TALLAHASSEE -- Republican Cuban-American lawmakers, still angry over the federal raid that snatched Elián González from his Miami relatives' home last year, walked quietly off the state House floor Thursday to protest a visit by former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.

 The walkout came as Reno, a Democratic candidate for governor, spent much of her day wandering the Capitol, meeting with potential supporters and listening to debate as the Legislature voted to cut more than $1 billion from the budget.

 Reno's visit was intended to highlight alternatives to cutting education and social services, but it refocused attention on election-year politics instead.

 ``We decided that we needed to demonstrate, with absolute unity, that we did not welcome Ms. Reno to the House of Representatives when you consider the manner in which she treated Elián González,'' said Rep. Carlos Lacasa, the Miami Republican who heads the House Budget Committee. ``She ignored his right to a fair hearing and supported President Clinton's immigration policies on the backs of people like Elián González, children brought to this country for one thing: freedom.''

 The protest highlighted one of the most controversial chapters in Reno's 7 1/2 years as attorney general, when she ordered a raid to remove Elián from his Miami relatives and to return him to his father in Cuba.

 It also signaled that Elián, who turned eight on Thursday, could be a major factor in the 2002 governor's race.

 Supporters of Republican Gov. Jeb Bush hope to use Elián as an issue to mobilize South Florida's Cuban-American community to vote against Reno, who is currently the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. Reno has described her decision on Elián as a matter of "family values,'' trying to turn a favorite GOP campaign theme to her own advantage.

 ``I know they feel very strongly, but I made a decision based on what was right for a little boy and his daddy,'' Reno said Thursday as she left a public gallery overlooking the House chamber. ``And I stand by it.''

 PURPOSE OF VISIT

 Reno backers said her visit Thursday, timed to coincide with the last day of a special session called by Bush to deal with a $1.3-billion shortfall in the state budget, gave the candidate a chance to talk about the GOP's record of managing Florida's finances.

 The budget shortfall has been at the center of intense partisan debate in Tallahassee for weeks. Democrats blame the shortfall on Bush's record of cutting taxes, while many Republicans say it is a symptom of a larger global economic downturn aggravated by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

 In the weeks following the attacks, Reno muted her criticism. But in recent days she has revved it up.

 On Thursday, she was followed between the Senate and House galleries by a throng of reporters and onlookers.

 After watching some debate, Reno met privately with individual legislators, labor leaders and members of the black legislative caucus.

 As she posed for pictures with a group of Coral Springs middle school students, Reno offered general answers to reporters' specific questions about solving the state's budget crisis.

 Q & A

 ``Florida should have one of the best educational systems in the country. It doesn't,'' she said. The Legislature and governor, she said, ``should never have let us get into this position in the first place.''

 What could have been done?

 ``I think much can be done to address the issues in a thoughtful way, recognizing that a problem is developing and that [they should not] continue to repeal taxes.''

 How can they do that?

 ``When I'm governor, I'll do it.''

 Does that mean a tax increase, as some Democrats have suggested? ``No. The first thing you would do is develop a budget that people would follow to make sure that the money that is meant for education goes for education.''

 Reno said that if the government spent more on early childhood education programs and invested more in its schools and universities, it would spend less on prisons and social programs and attract a more diverse collection of employers.

 ``It would go a long way toward making Florida far less reliant on just tourism and service industries and make it competitive in the information age,'' she said.

 'WE DIDN'T HISS'

 One leading Republican strategist, state GOP executive director David Johnson, said Reno should be more specific. ``It takes more than wandering the Capitol to lead this state,'' Johnson said. ``You have to express concrete ideas and real solutions to be a real leader.''

 Three non-Cuban Republicans joined their Cuban-American colleagues Thursday during the House protest: Reps. Andy Gardiner of Orlando, Gayle Harrell of Stuart, and Stan Mayfield of Vero Beach.

 The walkout came as Reno was introduced to the House by Rep. Sally Heyman, a North Miami Beach Democrat. The 12 Republicans quietly filed off the floor to speak with reporters outside.

 The Cuban caucus met before Thursday's proceedings to decide on a ``respectful, simple protest,'' said Rep. Manny Prieguez, R-Miami.

 ``We didn't hiss,'' said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, who then referred to Reno as ``the most corrupt attorney general in the U.S.A.''

 Annie Betancourt, D-Miami, the sole Cuban-American Democrat in the House, said she wasn't told about the protest and likely wouldn't have walked out, though she disagrees with the way Elián was removed from his relatives' Miami home.

 SNEERS . . .

 Bush said the demonstration showed democracy is ``alive and well. Far be it for me to be critical.''

 Wisecracking, Bush said he ``felt bad'' that Reno upstaged House Minority Leader Lois Frankel, who is running against Reno in the primary.

 ``Lois worked real hard; she was the loyal opposition,'' Bush said.

 ``Then on the last day of session, one of her opponents showed up. I don't think that's particularly fair.''

 . . . AND JEERS

 House Speaker Tom Feeney, too, used Reno's appearance to needle Frankel.

 When Frankel criticized House leadership for not taking up a measure that would provide health care to the unemployed, Feeney remarked: ``You seem edgy today.
 Competition in town?''

 At that, Frankel erupted.

 ``This is not about us, it's about people,'' she said, noting she met Wednesday with an unemployed woman who has lost her insurance. ``The attorney general has nothing to do with what I'm talking about now. I'm talking about people who have lost their jobs.''

 Feeney was undeterred.

 ``I could set up a podium for you and the attorney general,'' he said.

                                    © 2001