In Tallahassee, the cat's away. As the Florida Legislature begins its 2009 session - a session that will see budget cuts and decisions affecting everything from education to health care - the newspaper corps covering state government has shrunk to its smallest level in recent memory. ...more

March 15, 2009

These are indeed difficult times. Floridians are losing their jobs, consumer consumption is at very low levels, global trade volumes are declining and Florida is facing a significant budget deficit. Yet this is also a time of opportunity for us as a state to create jobs now and position our economy for the future. ...more

March 15, 2009

New tax incentives to coax automakers into producing electric cars won't help consumers right away. The way to help now would be to make roads safer for the small electric vehicles currently available. ...more

March 14, 2009

There was a time, long ago when the Earth was young, that not only was the Florida Legislature an effective body, but it often had strong leadership from Hillsborough County. ...more

March 11, 2009

Florida's $8 billion Florida Prepaid College Plan is safe from legislators looking for ways to plug budget holes, Gov. Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said Tuesday. ...more

March 10, 2009

As the Florida Legislature begins its 2009 session – a session that will see budget cuts and decisions affecting everything from education to health care – the newspaper press corps covering state government has shrunk to its smallest level in recent memory. ...more

March 10, 2009

Several affordable housing projects in Hillsborough County are imperiled by the Florida Legislature's decision to pull $190 million out of a pot of state money intended to build apartments and moderately priced homes for working-class families. ...more

March 7, 2009

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush loved his Blackberry so much he had it painted into his official state portrait, but a new report shows the state's love affair with wireless devices may have gotten out of hand. ...more

March 4, 2009

The 2009 regular session of the Florida Legislature is under way. The issue dominating the proceedings is the dwindling state government revenue stream. According to current estimates, planned spending for the state's 2010 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, will have to be cut by $5 billion. If not, there would be a budget deficit, which the state constitution bans. The Legislature could reduce the future red ink potential by asking the Florida voters to do away with the class size amendment to the state constitution they approved in 2002. Unfortunately, lawmakers may only delay class-size compliance a year and ask voters to approve a change in the way compliance is determined next year. ...more

March 4, 2009

Gov. Charlie Crist's prepared remarks to the Florida Legislature, as released by the governor's office: ...more

March 3, 2009