BY: MARC CAPUTO

Marco Rubio has given himself a first-ever grade for a Florida House Speaker: 57.

Rubio and his backers say that in his two years leading the state House, he was able to pass 57 of the proposals in his 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future initiative.

While that rate wouldn't merit a passing grade in school, it would be an excellent shooting percentage in basketball. But Rubio said the passage rate was far less important than the ideas themselves, which were formed at ''idea raisers'' -- rather than fundraisers -- held across the state.

''We never looked at 100 Ideas as a scorecard,'' Rubio said. ``A lot of big innovations would not have happened without 100 Ideas.''

DISAGREEMENT

On that last point, Rubio's critics say the West Miami Republican is taking a little too much credit.

Senate Democratic leader Steve Geller of Cooper City said legislators would likely have taken up a number of the issues Rubio highlighted -- including insurance, alternative fuels, and cracking down on sex offenders -- because constituents were talking about them and Gov. Charlie Crist campaigned on the issues.

''The fact is the governor led on a lot of issues,'' Geller said. ``If you're asking was Rubio a powerful advocate, passionate in his causes, the answer is yes. Do I think the 57 ideas came about because of the speaker? Obviously not.''

Rubio acknowledged that some of the ideas morphed over time, saying the initiative was to be a ''catalyst.'' He also said his successors would likely get caught up in dealing with ''new crises, new challenges'' and might not push forward the balance of ideas that didn't pass, such as creating an incentive for family friendly films or restricting teen driving.

Legislators also credit Rubio with sticking his neck out by publicly advocating so many ideas because of the temptation for lawmakers to hold the legislation hostage to get what they wanted out of Rubio. Rubio could claim that about 18 of the ideas passed this session in eight pieces of legislation in addition to 39 ideas last year -- a reflection of a speaker's lame-duck second term.

WHAT PASSED

Here are the ideas that passed this year:

Ideas 1-4 passed in an education bill that calls for a K-12 overhaul of education standards, a postponement of the FCAT-exam date and the addition of end-of-course exams. But the bill calls for a de-emphasis of the FCAT exam, which conflicts with Idea 1 because it called for more emphasis on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Idea 24 to help expand the Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship voucher to allow 5,000 more kids to attend private school with public help.

Idea 39 calls for a minimum-mandatory life sentence for anyone older than 18 who molests a child for a second time.

Idea 40 requires that a DNA sample be provided to law-enforcement agencies by those who have misdemeanor convictions as being Peeping Toms or for distributing lewd materials to minors.

Ideas 44-45 expand police powers to make it easier to arrest and prosecute suspected gang members. However, the ideas call for more money and training for fighting gangs and an increase in gang-related prosecutors and cops. But the legislation, spurred by a statewide grand-jury report, has no money specifically earmarked for any of that.

Idea 69 establishes Children's Zones to improve the lives of inner-city kids in Miami and Jacksonville.

Ideas 70-77 call for energy-efficient buildings, appliances and government vehicles as well as alternative-energy fuel sources and vehicles.

Idea 87 creates a public-private nonprofit corporation to help small businesses negotiate and obtain affordable health coverage.