As families and advocates ask Gov. Charlie Crist to veto budget cuts affecting the developmentally disabled, lawmakers are trying to find a way to restore at least some of those dollars. ...more

January 24, 2009

Even porcupines could get pink slips in the slumping economy as states consider cutting or eliminating funding that supports zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens. ...more

January 14, 2009

With the state confronting at least a $2.3 billion budget shortfall, little is being spared lawmakers' ax. In the ongoing special session in Tallahassee, legislators have targeted programs serving the elderly, schoolchildren, the disabled and hospital patients. Environmental protections, higher education and many other efforts are on the chopping block. ...more

January 10, 2009

The year 2009 has dawned. In the nation's capital, Barack Obama and Congress will soon begin trying to pull the nation out of a severe recession. We just hope they don't do anything to delay the recovery that would happen on its own, absent major interference from the political sector. In Tallahassee, state lawmakers will soon tackle a $2.3 billion budget shortfall. Here's hoping they don't try to solve that problem with taxes that invariably fail to raise the amounts of revenue their supporters claim. ...more

January 3, 2009

Robert W. Wilson of Tarpon Springs says taking money from reserves to make up for a revenue shortfall is not balancing a city budget. ...more

January 3, 2009

He's been a big fish in the relatively small pond that is Pasco County Republican politics. Bill Bunting is now swimming in a much bigger GOP pond. Bunting had to retire as chairman of the Pasco Republican Executive Committee when he was elected state committeeman for the Florida Republican Party in November. ...more

December 27, 2008

Gov. Charlie Crist played Santa Claus to state workers, who have gone two years without a cost-of-living pay raise, by giving them a holiday gift - two paid days off - as a token of appreciation. ...more

December 20, 2008

Gov. Charlie Crist played Santa Claus to state workers, who have gone two years without a cost-of-living pay raise, by giving them a holiday gift — two paid days off — as a token of appreciation. ...more

December 19, 2008

It wasn't many weeks ago that he was everywhere, or at least his name and face were everywhere. ...more

December 19, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Pasco County School District officials say they have figured out ways to cover the current $8.7 million budget shortfall and much of the $10 million to $15 million shortfall the district could face after the Legislature's special session in January. ...more

December 18, 2008