WASHINGTON - Acknowledging it's an "imperfect" bill, President Barack Obama said Wednesday he will accept a $410 billion spending package that includes billions in earmarks like those he promised to curb in last year's campaign. But he insisted the bill must signal an "end to the old way of doing business." ...more

March 11, 2009

Lawmakers might raise the cost of a pack of cigarettes by as much as a dollar this year - but don't accuse them of raising "taxes." ...more

March 10, 2009

Legislation to extend law enforcement officers' "bill of rights" should be called the "Keep Bad Cops Employed Act." If adopted, it will be virtually impossible for police and sheriff departments to cleanse miscreants from their ranks. ...more

March 9, 2009

Buy a pair of prescription glasses or contacts in Florida, and there's no tax, but lawmakers are taking a closer look at that tax exemption and others. ...more

March 5, 2009

After meeting for a year, a group that advises the Hillsborough County schools superintendent has come up with some ideas to meet the demands of Florida's stringent class-size law. ...more

March 5, 2009

No one wants to see the return of the day when Florida businesses were bombarded by crippling workers' compensation claims. But reforms adopted by the Legislature in 2003, as the state Supreme Court found, went too far. ...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

Congressional officials say President Barack Obama has told lawmakers he plans to pull troops out of Iraq by August 2010. ...more

February 26, 2009

Paul Newman died Sept. 26, 2008, at age 83 after a long battle with cancer. The House on Tuesday night approved a resolution recognizing Newman's achievements on and off screen. ...more

February 25, 2009

The financial forecast for Hillsborough County schools likely will get worse - even with a stimulus of federal money - and administrators will have to explore ways to cut even deeper, the district's superintendent said Tuesday. ...more

February 25, 2009