Environmentalists are reeling from the Senate's decision to axe Florida Forever funding for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. The proposal would mean canceling issuance of $250 million in bonds, which would have supported Florida's purchase of environmentally sensitive land around the state. ...more

January 8, 2009

State lawmakers face a daunting task in cutting $1 billion from the state budget in the next 10 days, but it's a task they largely put on themselves. ...more

January 8, 2009

Embattled House Speaker Ray Sansom could find himself before a grand jury soon. ...more

January 7, 2009

Higher taxes and other new sources of revenue loom on Florida's horizon - but not in time to stave off $1 billion in budget cuts now. ...more

January 6, 2009

Higher taxes and other new sources of revenue loom on Florida's horizon -- but not in time to stave off $1 billion in budget cuts now. That was the message from Senate President Jeff Atwater and other leading lawmakers, who spoke today about tackling ways to fatten the state's dwindling coffers when the Legislature convenes this spring. ...more

January 5, 2009

Higher taxes and other new sources of revenue loom on Florida's horizon -- but not in time to stave off $1 billion in budget cuts now. ...more

January 5, 2009

State lawmakers arrive at the Capitol today for a two-week special session to close a $2.3 billion gap in the state budget. ...more

January 5, 2009

At their first meeting of the new year on Tuesday, the Highlands County commissioners will discuss possible recommendations to the county's three-member delegation to the Florida Legislature. ...more

January 5, 2009

Florida legislators begin their search Monday for areas to carve $2.3 billion from the current state budget during a two-week special session brought on by the economic crisis. ...more

January 4, 2009

Florida lawmakers have an amazingly difficult task before them as they go to work in 2009. They must find drastic cuts to balance the state budget, or find revenue elsewhere. Most importantly, they must keep vital services while finding ways to cut the budget. One of the most important areas they have to trim involves our institutions of higher education, and so far they aren't doing so well. ...more

January 4, 2009