To meet Gov. Charlie Crist's request for a 10 percent reduction of its budget, Florida state parks recommends closure of 19 state parks with low attendance and the "return" of three state parks to their original owners, including Egmont Key. ...more

December 30, 2008

Finally, it's official. There will be a special legislative session next month. Gov. Charlie Crist, not a proponent previously, is now on board. That (2008-09) $2.3 billion state budget hole - that could deepen to $3.8 billion or more in 2009-10 - plus possible harm to Florida's credit rating and Medicaid scenarios from hell has everyone finally fixated on a resolution. Presumably, everything is on the table, especially in a state that hasn't fundamentally changed its revenue-raising ways from the LeRoy Collins administration years. ...more

December 24, 2008

An electric rate increase of nearly 25 percent could be like the proverbial lump of coal left in the Christmas stockings of Progress Energy customers, some lawmakers argue. Some legislators vow to seek a rollback next year of not quite half of the rate hike because residents are hurting from the recession. Yet Progress Energy executives insist they need the funds as they prepare for nuclear power projects, which can take the better part of a decade to bring on line. ...more

December 24, 2008

Why don't little Billy McCollum and his silly cronies pack up their toys and go home? They need to back off on their actions against the Seminole tribe and the casinos and gaming offered there. ...more

December 21, 2008

The economy is a shambles. State revenue is in a free-fall. House leaders in both parties stand accused of misusing their political powers. ...more

December 19, 2008

House and Senate leaders have declared a special legislative session in early January to plug an expected $2.3 billion hole in the state budget. ...more

December 16, 2008

House and Senate leaders have declared a special legislative session in early January to plug an expected $2.3-billion hole in the state budget. ...more

December 15, 2008

In most challenging situations where a major problem is the issue, do-nothing-and-hope-for-a-miracle is not an option. ...more

December 13, 2008

Democratic lawmakers want to raise the cigarette tax, and some Republicans are warming to the idea. Gov. Charlie Crist says he hasn't. ...more

December 11, 2008

The only thing more distressing than the increasingly darkening state budget picture in Tallahassee is the utter lack of leadership and problem-solving skills being shown by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature. ...more

December 10, 2008