Tucked into a $410 billion appropriations bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday is nearly $12 million in federal funding for projects in the Tampa Bay area, including $4.2 million for Port of Tampa dredging and maintenance. The legislation, expected to be approved by the Senate and signed into law in the next few weeks, is aimed at funding government operations through this September. ...more

February 26, 2009

The Legislature this week cut spending by roughly $2.8 billion to bring the state budget in balance. Then Gov. Charlie Crist threatened to veto the portion of the spending-cut plan that would take money from public education. We have a much better target for him if the governor is looking to wield his veto pen. ...more

January 17, 2009

Here's how things are supposed to work in Tallahassee: lawmakers set direction and bureaucrats make it happen. ...more

June 26, 2008

Gov. Charlie Crist spared parks, roads, drainage plans and dozens of other local projects from his veto pen Wednesday when he approved nearly every bit of the $66 billion budget that lawmakers submitted for the fiscal year starting July 1. ...more

June 12, 2008

The state Legislature was kind to Hernando County this year, and now Gov. Charlie Crist has reaffirmed that kindness. ...more

June 12, 2008

MILLIONS HEADED HERE FOR HEALTH CARE, ROAD PROJECTS BIG BUDGET WINNERS ...more

June 11, 2008

The Legislature put $2 million in the state budget this year to provide a small staff, offices and operating money for the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. ...more

May 27, 2008

Pasco County's state lawmakers did their best to bring home the bacon this year, but they were unable to push through legislation aimed at reducing sinkhole damage claims in the county. ...more

May 3, 2008

A few questions hold the key to whether USF builds the state's first public polytechnic campus in north Lakeland: Does Florida's higher education bureaucracy support it? Will the Legislature pay for it? Can it survive Gov. Charlie Crist's veto pen? ...more

January 29, 2008

Republican presidential rivals backed a blend of tax and spending cuts Thursday night to head off an election-year recession they generally agreed is avoidable. ...more

January 11, 2008