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

A lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to limit the state's authority to operate a Medicaid privatization experiment ...more

March 2, 2009

State Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg, is sponsoring smart legislation that would make county election supervisors nonpartisan jobs and, as in the case of trial judges, prohibit political parties or groups from endorsing or supporting candidates in their campaigns. ...more

February 25, 2009

You would have thought that George H.W. Bush's infamous "No new taxes" pledge in 1988 would have been forewarning enough. It eventually did what such expedient political promises typically do: run smack into unforeseen reality down the road. Bush de-pledged. He had rolled the rhetorical dice and hoped ensuing events - fiscal and political - wouldn't require a recant. ...more

February 25, 2009

A survey commissioned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and conducted by a Virginia-based firm whose co-founder consults for the Republican Party has found support for casino gambling. ...more

February 24, 2009

A survey commissioned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and conducted by a Virginia-based firm whose co-founder consults for the Republican Party has found support for casino gambling. ...more

February 23, 2009

The University of South Florida's rock-bottom tuition is a boon for sophomore Joey Shafer, who pays his bills with a patchwork of student loans, grants, scholarships and a job at Cody's Roadhouse restaurant. ...more

February 16, 2009

University of South Florida's rock-bottom tuition is a boon for sophomore Joey Shafer, who pays his bills with a patchwork of student loans, grants, scholarships and a job at Cody's Roadhouse restaurant. ...more

February 15, 2009