The recapture rule associated with the Save Our Homes will cut into or eliminate savings. ...more

September 24, 2008

Highlands County Commissioner Guy Maxcy asked an interesting question at this week's meeting where next year's budget was approved. He asked if anyone in the audience thought they received tax relief from the governor or the legislature last year. All that was heard was a groan from the large crowd. That is a perfect example of how the Legislature and governor have passed the buck to local governments, claiming they are cutting taxes, when in fact they are not. ...more

September 19, 2008

Florida's Board of Governors and others routinely criticize the Bright Futures scholarship program. ...more

September 16, 2008

At 33, John Legg considers himself a sapling in an old-growth forest. Never mind his two elections to the state Legislature nor, counting his days as an aide to then-state Rep. Heather Fiorentino, that he has spent nearly a third of his life racing around the corridors of power in Tallahassee. ...more

September 12, 2008

A deadly American-led raid on a Pakistani village embarrassed the government and eroded support for the pro-U.S. presidential front-runner Thursday just two days before the election. ...more

September 5, 2008

Early voting for Tuesday's primary election appears lower in Hillsborough County than in the past, but elections officials aren't sure whether the drop signals a trend or a concession to Mother Nature. ...more

August 24, 2008

For homeowners in trouble, a short sale can be a lifesaver. Lenders allow a house to be sold for less than is owed on the mortgage and then write off the rest. The homeowner just walks away. ...more

August 21, 2008

In reading "Tax 'Mess' Muddles Short Sales Of Homes" (front page, Aug. 13), it appears this is a great opportunity for our legislators to shine and come up with a common-sense solution. At issue here is whether the document stamps apply to a mortgage balance or the final selling price of the house in a short sale, where the mortgage lender accepts less for the house than what is owed. ...more

August 15, 2008

As Florida's coffers shrink in the face of a dour economy, confusion over a tax statute threatens to choke the flow of home sales at a time when the state is struggling under the burden of millions of unsold properties. ...more

August 13, 2008

Whatever his motives, and plenty of people will speculate on that, Sen. Barack Obama made a gutsy and appropriate move when he told an audience in Springfield, Ill., that he opposes slavery reparations and even apologies for the darkest corners of our nation's history. He'll be lambasted by all sides for saying it, of times, but we give him credit for putting it out there. ...more

August 3, 2008