Despite unprecedented pessimism about personal finances, consumer confidence among Floridians rose in December, reflecting optimism about new presidential leadership, a University of Florida study found. ...more

December 30, 2008

Despite unprecedented pessimism about personal finances, consumer confidence among Floridians rose in December, reflecting optimism about new presidential leadership, a University of Florida study found. ...more

December 29, 2008

A top adviser to President-elect Barack Obama said Sunday that the country's slowing economy won't keep the new administration from fulfilling its plans for a middle-class tax cut. ...more

December 29, 2008

Tampa Electric Co. performed an energy audit last week at Hillsborough County's jails, which in recent months have sought ways to save money on energy bills. The audit yielded positive results, although some ideas generated by the audit had been in the works, Col. Jim Previtera said. ...more

December 23, 2008

Here is a word of warning to the new administration and to all illegals: It would be ill-advised for the new administration to consider pushing for "Comprehensive Immigration." To do so will spark civil unrest, unlike that which America has never seen before. The American worker has been very tolerant for many years with low wages, unfair tax re-distribution, the hiring of illegal workers, the bringing in of guest workers, failing to enforce borders and allowing drugs and illegals from all over the world to enter our nation and the using of tax dollars to offshore American industry. This has caused the entire collapse of the financial system, causing the American worker to lose homes, healthcare and the American dream. This civil unrest could get very ugly. The target of this unrest will be public officials, organizations or anyone who promotes the misuse of our laws, including the illegals themselves. The American worker is "mad as hell" and will not allow this insanity to continue. Let this also be a word of warning to all illegals: the American worker will no longer be mister nice guy. ...more

December 20, 2008

NAFTA and the sweetheart deal given to China and India must be canceled, otherwise the American worker and the financial stability of this nation will never recover. China's population is about six times the population of the United States, as is India's. The wage scale in both China and India is almost that of a shoe shine boy. The different wage scales in past history has required tariffs so as not to destroy the economies of all nations. Tariff is not a dirty word. It has been used to correct disparities in wages for thousands of years. ...more

December 14, 2008

-WASHINGTON Talk about tall orders. When he chose Janet Napolitano to head the Department of Homeland Security, President-elect Barack Obama said, "She will be a leader who can reform a sprawling department while safeguarding our homeland." ...more

December 10, 2008

Heading into the holidays it's likely that you're going to be thinking a lot about money. This time of year tax advisers like to remind us that there are ways to minimize our tax bill next April. With an economic downturn in full swing and a new president waiting in the wings, that typical advice is coming up against a range of uncertainties this year. ...more

November 30, 2008

Alafia Elementary School Principal Ellyn Smith sat stoically Thursday night as parents hurled complaints against her to Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia. ...more

November 26, 2008

Gov. Charlie Crist was just a few months into his new administration when the subject of Florida's universities elicited two strong responses from him: Crist thought it was ludicrous that Florida students were having a hard time getting into public universities, and he was soundly against raising tuition. ...more

November 24, 2008