Opposition squares off on growth amendment

City and county governments have treated growth-management plan changes “like Halloween candy” for developers and voters need a “veto,” the head of a controversial constitutional-amendment campaign said Thursday.
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Florida Legislature sets special session to discuss $2.3 billion budget shortfall

It’s official.

The Legislature will meet in special session Jan. 5-16 to true up the state’s budget and the $2.3 billion gap between revenue and spending. Gambling and cigarette taxes are definitely out. Class-size spending and increased speeding fines are in.

House Speaker Ray Sansom and Senate President Jeff Atwater on Tuesday evening signed the call for the special session, a constitutionally required step for the Legislature to meet outside its required 60-day spring session. The call signed by Atwater and Sansom also sets out the limits of what can be considered for lawmakers. Anything outside the call requires a super majority of lawmakers to be taken up.

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Secretary of state continues to review fraud complaints

While Wakulla County election officials waited Wednesday to certify razor-thin victories, the state’s top elections chief continued to weigh fraud complaints.

Secretary of State Kurt Browning is still considering a complaint filed last week by a Panacea resident against Wakulla County Elections Supervisor Sherida Crum, alleging that voting rolls contained the names of people who listed vacant lots and nonexisting street addresses.
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Florida early voters favor Dems; GOP leads state in absentees

Nearly 2 million Floridians cast ballots in the first week of early voting, and the partisan breakdown gives a slight edge to Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
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Outlook bleak for Florida budget

Dire economic circumstances call for severe responses, a fact reflected in contingency plans drawn up by state agencies as Gov. Charlie Crist begins his budget-building process.

Crist asked his agencies to provide requests that included plans for a 10-percent cut. He’s hoping that’s not what’s required when he presents his version of the state’s spending plan in January, but his department heads have painted what it would look like if it were.

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Palin campaigns in Republican-rich areas of Florida

FORT MYERS — Gov. Sarah Palin energized large crowds in Southwest Florida on Monday while campaigning for the presidential ticket in a Republican-rich area of the state.
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Updated: Palin starts two-day Florida tour; Biden will be in the Sunshine State Wednesday

CLEARWATER — Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, the state’s two top Republicans, have taken the stage to introduce Republican vice presidential nominee and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

With patriotic and nostalgic songs from a group of elementary schoolers, today’s rally began at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater at around 7:30 a.m.

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Updated: Crist optimistic after Florida budget gets $672 million patch

Despite the transfer of $672 million to patch the state budget, which left nearly $800 million still needed to balance state spending with projected revenues, Gov. Charlie Crist today expressed optimism and confidence in Florida’s fiscal outlook.
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Amendments booted from Nov. 4 ballot

A unanimous Florida Supreme Court took much of the controversy out of the 2008 election Wednesday, swiftly scuttling three constitutional amendments proposed by the Tax and Budget Reform Commission.
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Crist weighs in on McCain’s VP pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Gov. Charlie Crist, himself chatted up as a possibility for the spot, is the latest Republican to weigh in on the vice-presidential pick.

“Senator John McCain has made a great pick in Governor Sarah Palin,” Crist said in a statement circulated by the Republican Party of Florida.

“She has demonstrated tremendous leadership as the chief executive of her state, working to bring Republicans and Democrats together to do what’s right. I congratulate both Senator McCain and Governor Palin on this historic choice for our people.”
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