Florida Taxpayer

Penny Tax for Orange Transit Needs a Long Shot

2008-07-24T12:26:00.001-04:00

Orange County Commissioner Linda Stewart's push to get a penny-per-gallon tax hike to fund Lynx on the ballot faced legal challenges from County Attorney Tom Drage today, and may be a tough sell to fellow county leaders.

Orlando Sentinel

Jacksonville may call for offshore drilling

2008-07-22T13:57:00.000-04:00

Former Jacksonville City Council President Daniel Davis is on a crusade to lower prices at the pump.

Florida Times Union

Jeb on Vouchers

2008-07-22T13:54:00.000-04:00

Recently, education reformers from across the country descended on Orlando to attend an education reform summit organized by the Foundation for Excellence in Education and the James Madison Institute. The conference examined the need to reduce achievement gaps and improve opportunities for all children, and highlighted promising reform strategies like holding schools accountable for results and expanding school choice.

National Review

Al Gore's Hypocrisy Exposed in New Video

2008-07-18T13:11:00.001-04:00

"We're back from Al Gore's big global warming speech, and boy did we have a great time! We had a dedicated band of taxpayer advocates out in force, pointing out the high economic cost of global warming alarmism - starting with $8 a gallon gasoline."

Americans for Prosperity

Grassroots organization opposes proposed property tax hike

2008-07-18T13:08:00.000-04:00

The Florida chapter of a national grassroots organization is speaking out against a proposed property tax increase in the city of Orlando.

Americans for Prosperity-Florida is hosting a town hall meeting July 29 at the Winter Park Library to discuss property taxes, gas prices and how to more effectively communicate with elected officials, according to a news release.

Orlando Business Journal

Democrats Should Let Us Drill

2008-07-18T13:07:00.001-04:00

By MITCH MCCONNELL
July 18, 2008; Page A11

Now that an executive-branch ban on offshore oil exploration has been lifted, the time has come for Democrats in Washington to lift their own ban on increased domestic supply. Americans are demanding that Congress do something about record-high gas prices. They recognize that prices will not go down unless supplies go up. And they also know that the only thing now standing in the way of more domestic supply is the Democratic refusal to allow it.

Wall Street Journal

School-voucher amendments get court date

2008-07-16T11:22:00.000-04:00

A coalition of education groups trying to scrap two constitutional amendments that could lead to more state-funded private school vouchers in Florida will get their day in court early next month.

Orlando Sentinel

Vice President Crist?

2008-07-16T10:40:00.003-04:00

Chris Cillizza makes the case for VP Charlie Crist".. In a toss-up race, Crist could make the difference as he not only has a demonstrated appeal at the ballot box (and high approval ratings to boot) but also has surrounded himself with a highly regarded political team -- both in Florida and Washington.

Tampabay.com

Jeb: I would've supported drilling at $4.30 a gallon

2008-07-16T10:40:00.001-04:00

Former Gov. Jeb Bush tells the Florida Keys' Keynoter this week that "if he'd known while he was Florida's governor that oil would spike above $4.30 a gallon in the Keys, he would have been in favor of drilling for oil off Florida's coast.

Miami Herald

Property-tax bills likely to rise in Orlando

2008-07-16T10:04:00.000-04:00

Property-tax rates are likely heading up in Orlando, city commissioners said Tuesday as they worked to plug a $30 million budget gap.

"It's a really bad time, with the economy the way it is, to impose an extra burden right when people need the extra cash," said Orlando native Edward Winslow, a student and restaurant worker. Winslow said his grandmother recently mortgaged her home, which had been paid off, to cover basic living expenses.

Orlando Sentinel

Property taxes headed up in Orlando

2008-07-15T12:54:00.001-04:00

The tax rate will be going up in Orlando, where city commissioners say residents have become accustomed to top-notch municipal services and they plan to keep it that way.

Orlando Sentinel

Bush: Let's drill!

2008-07-15T10:08:00.000-04:00

President Bush says he's lifted the presidential ban on offshore oil drilling his father imposed in 1990 and now it's time for Congress to act.

Miami Herald

Amendment 1 budget cuts kicking in

2008-07-15T10:06:00.000-04:00

Local government budget cuts prompted in part by the passage of Amendment 1 are starting to roll out -- at least in local government workshops.

The property tax constitutional amendment championed by Gov. Charlie Crist last January was projected to shave a little over $9 billion in taxes for property owners over the next four years -- around $1.2 billion this year.

Orlando Sentinel

Scholars: Crist unlikely VP pick

2008-07-12T09:46:00.000-04:00

TALLAHASSEE — The temptation is overwhelming and the flattery, for a rookie governor with a razor-sharp political instinct, irresistible.

But after months of speculation, political scholars and veteran players consider Charlie Crist an unlikely running mate for presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

PNJ.com

Positive Signs for Florida Housing Market

2008-07-12T09:45:00.001-04:00

For the first time in a long time, there's positive news to report about Florida's foreclosure crisis.

The Sunshine State is second only to California for having the highest foreclosure rates in the country. Despite foreclosure filings being up 90% from this time last year, Alex Sanchez with the Florida Bankers Association says they're studying the statistics, and there's good news to report.

WOKV.com

Offshore drilling draws support

2008-07-07T12:21:00.001-04:00

With a group of restaurants fronting the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway, it probably comes as no surprise that Ed Chiles has strong views about drilling for oil off Florida's coast.

"I think that's a bad bet," said Chiles, owner of the Sandbar, BeachHouse and Mar Vista restaurants on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. "The beaches are Florida's livelihood, and we just can't afford an oil spill. I don't see the payoff. We need to get off fossil fuels, and we need to be conserving fuels and developing alternative sources of energy, and it's time for action, not talk."

Bradenton.com

Economic observers say Florida's downturn likely will last another year

2008-07-07T12:20:00.000-04:00

Recession for another year, rising unemployment and $4.10-a-gallon gasoline, too? You might say this is getting to be difficult.

The questions now, at the mid-point of 2008, are: How long will these troubled economic times last? How far down will the economy go? And how many people will be able to hold on to their jobs while they wait for the economy to recover?

Sun-Sentinel

Crist unlikely VP for McCain

2008-07-06T18:06:00.000-04:00

The temptation is overwhelming and the flattery, for a rookie governor with a razor-sharp political instinct, irresistible.

But after months of speculation, political scholars and veteran players consider Charlie Crist an unlikely running mate for presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

Tallahassee Democrat

Crist gets to reshape high court

2008-07-06T08:51:00.001-04:00

In light of recent developments, Gov. Charlie Crist must be salivating at the prospect of appointing four justices to the Florida Supreme Court.

St. Pete Times

Oelrich: Let's drill

2008-07-02T11:04:00.001-04:00

State Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Cross Creek, said today that he will file legislation to encourage Congress to lift the federal ban on offshore oil drilling, as well Artic National Wildlife Refuge

Tampabay.com

Supreme Court Nominating Commission meets to choose justices

2008-07-02T09:56:00.000-04:00

Two new members of Florida's Supreme Court will be chosen in an expedited selection process to replace Justices Raoul Cantero and Kenneth Bell, both leaving the court later this year to return to private practice.

Tallahassee Democrat

Expert at UCF sees growth in long run but more pain first

2008-07-01T09:49:00.000-04:00

A University of Central Florida economist is predicting more pain for the Sunshine State's economy before it shakes off the effects of the sharp housing downturn.

Herald Tribune

Compromise Drilling Proposal

2008-06-27T09:48:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON — A Republican proposal to lift federal bans on oil drilling would not affect Florida's Gulf coast but could impact its Atlantic Coast, U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez said today.

Under the plan introduced today by 43 Republican senators, state governments would have the option of allowing oil and gas drilling 50 miles from their coastlines along the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Palm Beach Post

Offshore drilling gains new Fla. GOP supporters

2008-06-25T15:53:00.002-04:00

WASHINGTON - Opposition to offshore oil and gas drilling, once a virtual requirement for any Florida politician, is evaporating in the state's 16-member Republican House delegation.

The crumbling opposition comes as the average price of gas tops $4 a gallon and after three high-profile Republicans disavowed previous opposition to offshore drilling.

Gainesville Sun

State's jobless rate is worst in five years

2008-06-25T15:53:00.001-04:00

Florida's jobless rate rose to 5.5 percent in May, the highest since January 2003, according to a state report released Friday.

The rate, which is adjusted for seasonal fluctuations, means more than a half million workers statewide are out of work. Palm Beach and Broward counties' unemployment numbers also rose last month, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.

Sun Sentinel

No New Taxes in Jacksonville

2008-06-25T15:45:00.000-04:00

Click here to see the local ABC/NBC news coverage of the defeat of Mayor Peyton's $250 million tax increase.

Peyton won't ask for tax increase

2008-06-25T09:54:00.001-04:00

RICK WILSON / The Florida Times-Union

Mayor John Peyton talks to journalists after saying that funding for Jacksonville Journey would not come from a tax increase.

"This is a tremendous day for Jacksonville taxpayers," said Adam Guillette, the group's state director.

Florida Times Union

With Oil's Rise, Floridians Shift on Drilling

2008-06-25T09:53:00.002-04:00

ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. -- Neighbors Jo Ellen Sharp and Kristin Jenkins stood beside each other after a day on the beach of this barrier island, divided by the thought that Florida's corner of the Gulf of Mexico could some day be dotted by gigantic oil rigs.

Wall Street Journal

Debate over Gulf drilling splits Florida coast residents

2008-06-25T09:53:00.001-04:00

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. — Forget hurricanes. Never mind business cycles. In two decades of running scuba diving boats for tourists, Jerry McLendon has never seen a bigger challenge to his business than the current high price of gasoline.

Palm Beach Post

Crist's climate change summit kicks off in Miami

2008-06-25T09:52:00.000-04:00

MIAMI — Florida Gov. Charlie Crist plans to speak about green technology at a summit on climate change.

Florida power companies also plan to introduce a solar initiative at the two-day conference. It kicks off in Miami on Wednesday.

Herald Tribune

Jacksonville Mayor Peyton's Tax Increase Proposal is Struggling to Gain Support

2008-06-20T10:22:00.001-04:00

Mayor John Peyton said Thursday he will not compromise on his Jacksonville Journey anti-crime plan but acknowledged it has been a tough sell partly because the $36.2 million plan could require a tax increase.

Times Union

Urgent: House Democrats call for nationalization of refineries

2008-06-19T11:53:00.001-04:00

House Democrats responded to President's Bush's call for Congress to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling. This was at an on-camera press conference fed back live.

Among other things, the Democrats called for the government to own refineries so it could better control the flow of the oil supply.

Fox News

Florida's Incoming House Leader No Fan of Drilling

2008-06-19T11:03:00.000-04:00

Unlike Gov. Charlie Crist, incoming House Speaker Ray Sansom said Wednesday that he's not changing his mind about offshore oil-drilling -- he still opposes it.

Orlando Sentinel

Jeb's oil alternative: drill but preserve the buffer

2008-06-19T11:02:00.003-04:00

Former Gov. Jeb Bush, who negotiated the federal-state compromise to keep drilling away from Florida shores, said in an email to the Miami Herald that he supports drilling off Florida with restrictions. His suggestion: reviving the 2006 compromise to create a deep buffer around Florida while lifting the moratorium on domestic oil and gas drilling.

Miami Herald

Rubio: Explore drilling but don't fool public

2008-06-19T11:02:00.001-04:00

House Speaker Marco Rubio agrees it makes sense to explore "every natural resource we have" to ensure energy independence. "If people can show us we can drill off the coast of Florida and we can do it safely without harming the environment," he told the Buzz, "then we should do that."

Tampabay.com

Crist Veep-O-Meter drops

2008-06-19T11:01:00.001-04:00

We're not at all buying some of the national press Buzz that John McCain may have mortally wounded himself in Florida over his new drilling stance, but it's so far not helping Charlie Crist's national image. The Hotline today even questioned whether Crist's support for McCain's position had sunk his VP chances.

Tampabay.com

Crist says federal ban on offshore drilling should be lifted

2008-06-18T10:49:00.001-04:00

Gov. Charlie Crist said a tourist state like Florida should be willing to consider lifting a federal moratorium on offshore oil drilling as one long-term solution to soaring fuel prices that are sending shock waves through the nation's economy.

Tallahassee Democrat

FL Chamber: We're with you, Charlie

2008-06-17T22:39:00.001-04:00

The Florida Chamber of Commerce just issued a statement siding with Gov. Crist on oil drilling, and possibly providing some cover as he draws fire for what some see as a flip-flop.

St. Pete Times

67% Support Offshore Drilling, 64% Expect it Will Lower Prices

2008-06-17T13:38:00.001-04:00

Most voters favor the resumption of offshore drilling in the United States and expect it to lower prices at the pump, even as John McCain has announced his support for states that want to explore for oil and gas off their coasts.

Rasmussen Reports

Crist likes McCain's drilling plan, wouldn't rule it out for Florida

2008-06-17T11:24:00.001-04:00

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist tells Buzz that he loves Sen. John McCain's idea to lift the federal moratorium on off-shore drilling and let individual states decide whether to allow oil and gas exploration. He also said he wouldn't rule out letting Florida opt to drill off-shore.

Tampabay.com

Gingrich: "Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less."

2008-06-17T11:23:00.000-04:00

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is jumping aboard the GOP-led push to open up more of the US coastline to oil and gas exploration with an online petition.

Miami Herald

McCain: Allow offshore drilling

2008-06-16T13:55:00.001-04:00

Sen. John McCain today said he will call for lifting the two-decade old federal moratorium on gas and oil exploration that covers most of the U.S. coast and let states decide whether to allow drilling.

St. Pete Times

Rubio on veto: It's going to cost drivers more

2008-06-16T13:54:00.000-04:00

House Speaker Marco Rubio sent out the following statement regarding the governor's veto of turnpike bid language he inserted into the budget:

“Today's veto will result in a government contract being awarded to benefit a single vendor. Combining the state’s fuel and food contracts along the Florida Turnpike limits the competitiveness of the procurement to only two companies, squeezes out all other potential bidders, and guarantees that we will not have an open, competitive, and transparent procurement process. The end result of this decision will be increased costs to Florida’s motorists.”

Miami Herald

New Evidence on Government and Growth

2008-06-16T10:08:00.002-04:00

In the early 1980s, Ronald Reagan embraced the ideas of a small group of economists dubbed "supply-siders." They argued that lower taxes and slimmer government would stimulate growth, enterprise, harder work and higher levels of saving and investment. These views were widely ridiculed at the time, dismissed as "voodoo economics."

Wall Street Journal

Hometown Democracy Heads Back to Court

2008-06-12T10:57:00.001-04:00

Florida business groups thought they stuck a stake through the heart of Florida Hometown Democracy earlier this year, but the slow-growth ballot initiative keeps finding new ways to spring back to life.

Orlando Sentinel

Rubio pummels Obama, liberal media

2008-06-12T10:56:00.002-04:00

Looks like Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, perhaps in preparation for a role as a political commentator, had a captive crowd at the Boca Raton Republican Club late last month.

Palm Beach Post

Crist vetoes $251 million from budget and won't take questions about it

2008-06-12T10:56:00.001-04:00

Gov. Charlie Crist quietly signed the state's $66.2 billion budget Wednesday, vetoing three items totalling $251 million from the state spending plan which is a record $6 billion less than the budget he signed last year.

Miami Herald

Crist To Sign Budget

2008-06-10T21:58:00.001-04:00

Breaking with tradition -- and a signal that the volume of vetoes will be modest -- Gov. Charlie Crist plans to sign the state's $66.2 billion budget Wednesday without a public signing ceremony.

Orlando Sentinel

Goodlette sets sights on Supreme Court

2008-06-10T17:19:00.001-04:00

Former state Rep. Dudley Goodlette, a moderate Republican from Naples, confirms that he'll apply for one of four upcoming vacancies on the state Supreme Court. A 60-year-old board certified real estate lawyer, Goodlette would be a rarity on the court. He has never served as a judge and he held partisan political office. But he's viewed as an ally of an independent judiciary and devoted much of his lawmaking to support of the court system.

St. Pete Times

Online Poll on Jacksonville's $250 Million Tax Increase

2008-06-10T11:02:00.003-04:00

A community-wide anti-crime initiative, The Jacksonville Journey, will make recommendations to the city later this month about how to deal with crime in Jacksonville. Mayor John Peyton is considering raising property taxes in his budget to pay for the recommended moves.

Should Jacksonville raise taxes?

Click here to vote

Tax-relief measure starting to kick in

2008-06-10T10:45:00.002-04:00

The tax-relief package passed in January means 49,000, about two-thirds, of all Lee County businesses will not be taxed on equipment. That's one way Amendment 1, the once hotly debated tax-relief plan, is saving homeowners and businesses, but cutting millions in tax dollars from government.

News Press

AIF releases annual voting scorecard

2008-06-10T10:45:00.001-04:00

Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Gainesville, and Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, cast the most pro-business votes in the 2008 session, according to the annual survey by Associated Industries of Florida. But the trade group is worried that the Legislature's overall score of 85.5 percent fell three points from last year.

St. Pete Times

Above the fold: Tax savings could vanish

2008-06-04T10:36:00.004-04:00

The property tax cut that the state’s voters overwhelmingly decided to give themselves this year will not result in significant savings for most homeowners, Palm Beach County leaders warned Monday.

Palm Beach Post

School Vouchers Okay When Tied to Spending; Crist Still Strong, Poll Shows

2008-06-04T10:36:00.001-04:00

Florida voucher supporters apparently struck gold with voters when they tied a proposed constitutional amendment allowing public money to flow to private schools with another provision requiring that at least 65 percent of school budgets be spent in the classroom.

Orlando Sentinel

Florida students score above national average on math and reading comprehension

2008-05-27T22:36:00.001-04:00

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Some scores are up and others down, but Florida students again are above average in all grades on reading and math tests used in national comparisons, according to results released Tuesday.

WSRZ.com

Americans for Prosperity Fights Property Tax Increase

2008-05-27T10:23:00.001-04:00

Jacksonville - State Director Adam Guillette was featured on the ABC/NBC news speaking out against the proposed property tax increase.

Click here to see the video

As justices leave Florida's high court, Crist has chance to shape state's judicial system

2008-05-26T09:03:00.001-04:00

For the justices it was a decision to go home, make money and take care of family.

For the Florida Supreme Court it means the loss of its two most reliably conservative voices and votes

Tallahassee Democrat

Crist moves the Veep-O-Meter in Sedona

2008-05-26T09:02:00.001-04:00

With Charlie Crist out in Arizona this weekend socializing with John McCain and fellow vice presidential contenders Mitt Romney and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, how could the Veep-O-Meter not look strong for our Governor? Crist stikes us as a lot more fun to kick back with than the tea-totaling Romney.

Tampabay.com

Stop the Largest Earmark Ever!

2008-05-22T13:33:00.003-04:00

Lawmaker's are playing pork-barrel politics with YOUR money; and even worse, with our national defense decisions. The airforce needed a new tanker, but politicians are hindering the process.

Click here to take action now

Local Tax Fighting Group Chides Jax Journey

2008-05-21T19:21:00.001-04:00

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Americans for Prosperity is a grassroots organization aimed at keeping local property taxes low, and their target right now is the Jacksonville Journey and its proposed tax increases.

First Coast News

$175 million tax dollars for a new stadium

2008-05-16T13:57:00.001-04:00

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Tampa Bay Rays executives on Thursday announced a $450 million financing plan for a 34,000-seat waterfront ballpark.

Team executives are counting on the sale of their current home, Tropicana Field, the continuation of a hotel bed tax and $55 million in parking revenues over the life of the new stadium.

Yahoo!

Elected official makes six figures but doesn't show up for work

2008-05-13T13:55:00.000-04:00

Jed Pittman

New Port Richey, Florida - When you do business at the Pasco Courthouse it will eventually involve Jed Pittman the Clerk of Court.

Pittman, a powerful Pasco politician, has been running the office since 1977. When we stopped in to see Pittman we were surprised he was in the office. Pittman wasn't there the past couple times we checked. An employee, whose identity we are protecting, says Pittman only works a couple of days a week, a few hours at a time.

Tampa Bay News 10

Crist says he'll OK tuition increase

2008-05-06T01:11:00.000-04:00

Community college administrators no longer have to hold out hope that Gov. Charlie Crist will approve a tuition increase.

Tallahassee.com

Crist lukewarm on tax swap idea, no hint on whether he will whack budget

2008-05-06T01:10:00.002-04:00

Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday morning was less than enthusiastic about the proposed tax swap on this fall's ballot.

While previously Crist had suggested he might campaign for the initiative that would cut school property taxes and replace them with at least a one cent hike in the sales tax, Crist this time around said "I don't know."

Miami Herald

Session: ideology took back seat to pragmatics as GOP 'delayed principles'

2008-05-06T01:10:00.001-04:00

Florida's Republican-led Legislature to moved to the political middle this legislative session as the sour economy and dismal budget year left them little place else to go. To ease the pain of $5 billion in budget cuts over a year, Republicans abandoned a handful of basic conservative tenets: They tapped savings accounts, raised $200 million in user fees and, in a handful of cases, they made government bigger.

Miami Herald

So begins Rubio's 100 year journey

2008-05-04T14:45:00.001-04:00

Standing before the portrait that will hang in the House for a century, Speaker Marco Rubio displayed his charm, humor and self-styled passion for big ideas in a long, emotional farewell.

Tampabay.com

Hotel bed tax bill dies

2008-05-04T14:44:00.001-04:00

The Florida Keys won't get to use bed taxes to build affordable housing.

Bowing to pressure from the state's tourism industry, the state Legislature rejected a measure Friday that would have allowed Monroe County to spend the proceeds from one penny of its resort tax building work-force housing.

OrlandoSentinel.com

Florida legislative session ends; $66.2B budget approved

2008-05-04T14:43:00.002-04:00

The Legislature ended its 60-day session Friday not with a bang or a whimper, but an emotional compromise.

FloridaCapitalNews.com

Rubio's emotional farewell

2008-05-04T14:43:00.001-04:00

TALLAHASSEE --

Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban exiles who climbed the political ranks to become Florida's first Cuban-American speaker of the state House of Representatives, bade an emotional farewell Friday afternoon, choking back tears as he spoke about his motivation to succeed: his parents.

MiamiHerald.com

Property tax bill goes to Crist

2008-05-04T14:42:00.000-04:00

TALLAHASSEE — Despite an attempt from House Republicans to reignite divisive property tax battles with their Senate counterparts, lawmakers agreed this morning to a package of less ambitious changes.

PalmBeachPost.com

Florida legislation that passed and that failed

2008-05-04T14:41:00.000-04:00

BUSINESS REGULATION

PASSED

Foreclosure fraud – Increase disclosure requirements for foreclosure-related services (HB 643)

Annuity regulation – Increase penalties on sellers who pressure elderly to buy annuities they don't need or want (SB 2082)

Click here for more

Voters To Have Final Say On Adding Penny To State Sales Tax

2008-05-04T14:40:00.000-04:00

TALLAHASSEE - Florida voters will decide this fall whether to tack another penny onto the state sales tax and whether to resurrect one of former Gov. Jeb Bush's pet education projects. They will also weigh in on various tax breaks.

TBO.com

Another session ends, but uneasiness lingers

2008-05-04T14:39:00.000-04:00

TALLAHASSEE — Battling budget blues with an eye toward November elections, lawmakers left the Capitol after 60 days of work with the specter of Floridians' unrest over reduced spending on education and social services.

HeraldTribune.com

Small government is cheaper government

2008-04-29T15:43:00.000-04:00

BY ED BRADDY
SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BANNER

With the April 15 filing deadline behind us, we're well aware of when taxes are due. But do you know when your taxes are paid?

According to the non-profit Tax Foundation (www.taxfoundation.org), Floridians did not pay off their annual tax bill until April 26, that's yesterday. You'll spend one-third of the year working for federal, state, and local governments before you begin working for yourself.

Ocala Star Banner

Crist announces 2nd climate change summit

2008-04-29T15:06:00.002-04:00

Florida Governor Charlie Crist and Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, announced a Florida summit on global climate change called "Serve to Preserve."

St. Pete Times

Rubio's new book: '60 days'

2008-04-29T15:06:00.001-04:00

It's like high school again this afternoon in the Florida House.

Speaker Marco Rubio has presented members with a yearbook of sorts, a glossy hardcover photo book called 60 days. "This isn't about ideas," Rubio said, alluding to his 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future. "It's not about me necessarily."

Tampabay.com

You call that tax reform? Seriously?

2008-04-29T15:05:00.000-04:00

More tax breaks for a select few in Florida?

Making sure that the state can give its tax dollars to the church?

Those are the big ideas for fixing Florida's tax structure?

St. Pete Times

School budget a 'tax shift,' Pickens says

2008-04-29T14:51:00.000-04:00

When the new state budget landed on legislators' desks Monday, Democrats quickly discovered a $365-million increase in property taxes statewide for schools next year -- despite what they recalled was a commitment by House GOP leaders not to increase those taxes.

St. Pete Times

Crist leans hard to revive a gas tax break

2008-04-28T20:28:00.000-04:00

The budget is written and done without the last-minute gas tax holiday recently pursued by Gov. Charlie Crist. But that's not stopping Crist from continuing to try. He first mentioned it on the Fox Channel this morning -- no doubt legislators were riveted and watching -- then he phoned his closest Senate friend on Monday morning, Sen. Mike Fasano, a Tampa Republican, and asked him to help.

Miami Herald

House and Senate leaders agree on final budget

2008-04-28T20:27:00.002-04:00

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Lawmakers working on next year's state budget finished negotiations Sunday, finalizing approximately $5 billion in cuts to the budget that now needs approval from the House, Senate and governor.

Herald Tribune

Prop tax hike in budget after all? Dems say it's a budget 'sleight of hand'

2008-04-28T20:27:00.001-04:00

Despite promises that property taxes would be "held harmless'' in this year's budget, legislators want school districts to spend property tax revenues intended for school construction on classrooms.

Miami Herald

Ghost of Jeb wins: Vouchers is on the ballot

2008-04-26T19:12:00.003-04:00

With their hallmark piece of tax reform safely on the ballot, opposition melted Friday against a proposal to enshrine into the state Constitution a protection for private school vouchers.

Miami Herald

Voters get one more: 65 percent of school budget to classrooms

2008-04-26T19:12:00.001-04:00

Voters will get a chance to pass a symbolic mandate to the Florida Legislature to order that 65 percent of all school district funding go into the classroom. By a vote of 20 to 5, the Taxation and Budget Reform added its eighth and last amendment to the ballot.

Miami Herald

School Vouchers Added To Ballot

2008-04-26T19:10:00.002-04:00

TALLAHASSEE - Two years after the Florida Supreme Court struck down a school voucher program for children in failing public schools, voters will have the chance in November to revive it.

Tampa Tribune

Fla. tax panel puts school voucher, spending items on ballot

2008-04-26T19:10:00.001-04:00

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A proposal critics say would not only allow school voucher programs but require them went on the November ballot Friday.

Voters will also be able to require schools to spend at least 65 percent of their budgets in the classroom as part of the same proposed constitutional amendment.

TBO.com

House votes to put tax cap on ballot

2008-04-24T13:47:00.001-04:00

In what amounts to little more than an election-year statement, the House voted 79-38 on Wednesday to put a sweeping government revenue cap on the November ballot.

The resolution (HJR 7125) by Rep. Frank Attkisson, R-St. Cloud, would tie the growth in all government revenue to population and inflation plus 1 percent.

Tallahassee Democrat

Business groups to fight tax swap

2008-04-22T06:49:00.002-04:00

TALLAHASSEE — A 25 percent cut in property taxes would seem to be sweet relief for the state's largest businesses, which stand to save billions of dollars.

Herald Tribune

Rubio calls swap 'potential recipe for disaster'

2008-04-22T06:49:00.001-04:00

House Speaker Marco Rubio says he has always viewed the revenue cap and tax swap as working in concert. But now that the cap has been killed by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, Rubio says the swap is "a potential recipe for disaster."

St. Pete Times

Grover Norquist says no to TBRC tax swap

2008-04-22T06:48:00.002-04:00

Anti-tax guru Grover Norquist has penned a letter asking Florida' tax reform commission to "revisit" its plan to replace $9.5 billion in property taxes with higher sales taxes.

Orlando Sentinel

Tax swap picks up more critics

2008-04-22T06:48:00.001-04:00

Orlando-based Ax The Tax has added its name to the list of groups that have come out against the state taxation reform commission's property tax swap.

Leading up to this week's vote, that list has been heavy on business lobbyists who fear their clients could be smacked with service taxes or lose their tax breaks if the $9.5 billion property tax cut passes at the polls in November.

Orlando Sentinel

Legislature passes on most property tax reforms

2008-04-22T06:47:00.000-04:00

After promising the Amendment 1 property tax cut was an opening salvo, Florida legislators are poised to end their 2008 legislative sessio without taking another shot.

However, Republicans in the Florida House want to make it easier for property owners to challenge their assessments, reviving an idea they considered and dropped a year ago.

Orlando Sentinel

Rubio plan cuts property taxes for Florida cities, counties by $6.3 billion

2008-04-22T06:46:00.000-04:00

A special panel of economic advisors calculated Monday that a plan backed by House Speaker Marco Rubio for limiting property taxes would cost cities, counties and other taxing districts about $6.3 billion.

That's a lot less than the $8 billion Rubio predicted last November when he threw his support behind a petition campaign for a constitutional amendment that would cap property taxes at 1.35 percent of value.

Florida Capital News

As Housing Market Slumps, More Property Taxes Unpaid

2008-04-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

TAMPA - A slowing economy and stagnant real estate market has translated into a record year of late property taxes.

Tax collectors in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties are reporting dramatically higher numbers of people who missed the April 1 deadline to pay their property tax bill. In Hillsborough County, the increase is near 30 percent.

Tampa Tribune

Business groups to fight tax swap

2008-04-21T10:57:00.001-04:00

TALLAHASSEE — A 25 percent cut in property taxes would seem to be sweet relief for the state's largest businesses, which stand to save billions of dollars.

But instead, business groups are ferociously attacking a plan that would cut $9 billion of property taxes and replace it by increasing the state sales tax and expanding it to include dozens of services and products.

Herald Tribune

Budget cuts in Florida eat into tax holidays

2008-04-21T10:52:00.000-04:00

Florida families will have to shop a little faster if they want to take advantage of the tax-free period for buying school clothes next summer.

The back-to-school sales tax holiday will be a week long this year, three days shorter than years past, in an effort to save state money.

Tallahassee Democrat

Haridopolos ratchets up tax fight - on the Web

2008-04-19T17:25:00.000-04:00

Sen. Mike Haridopolos has a new Web site attacking the "tax swap" proposal being considered by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. (see post below for his public hearing this morning on the plan.)

St. Pete Times

Bid to cut property taxes, raise sales tax stirs up Tallahassee

2008-04-19T17:24:00.001-04:00

TALLAHASSEE --

A powerful state senator held a one-man tribunal Friday to point out the pitfalls of a proposed constitutional amendment to swap some school-district property taxes for higher sales taxes.

Miami Herald

Lawmakers give Florida Forever land-buying program $300 million

2008-04-19T17:23:00.000-04:00

House leadership has agreed with the Senate to provide $300 million in the upcoming state budget for the Florida Forever land-buying program, according to a House staff member.

Florida Capital News

Relief for “outrageous” gas prices?

2008-04-19T17:22:00.000-04:00

Gov. Charlie Crist said today that lawmakers should consider repealing the state gasoline tax this summer to “alleviate some of the financial difficulties” Floridians are having at the pump.

Palm Beach Post

In one-sided fight, Haridopolos pummels 'swap'

2008-04-19T13:59:00.000-04:00

Sen. Mike Haridopolos opened his hearing this morning on the proposed tax swap as if he were Paul Harvey. "I'll be the first to admit, it sounded great," he said of the plan to replace most school property taxes for a 1 cent sales tax increase and other revenue sources.

St. Pete Times