Officials: Florida more prepared for disasters than ever before

Florida is more ready for a hurricane and other disasters than ever before, Gov. Charlie Crist and top emergency-management officers said Wednesday.

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Officials: Florida more prepared for disasters than ever before

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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Ethics complaint filed against Sansom

Pressure continues to mount on House Speaker Ray Sansom, who now faces an ethics complaint filed by a Clearwater man.

“Somebody’s got to say something,” David Plyer, a retired electrical engineer, said Monday. “Those elected officials all seem to be quiet, and they seem to be part of the same club.”

Plyer alleges in his complaint that the powerful Destin Republican improperly steered $24.5 million in taxpayer dollars to Northwest Florida State College before accepting a $110,000 job as a school vice president. The complaint cites an ethics law that prohibits a public official from “corruptly” using his or her authority to, “secure a special privilege, benefit, or exemption for himself, herself or others.”
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Crist weighs moratorium on foreclosures

Continues to give Republicans a bad name

US Constitution, Article 1, Section 10:
“No State shall… pass any… Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts…

Gov. Charlie Crist said Monday he is considering ordering a moratorium on home foreclosures, “especially during the holidays.”

In an informal gathering with reporters following a news conference, Crist was asked what he thought of copying California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 90-day moratorium on home foreclosures.
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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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Polls suggest Florida too close to call as McCain, Obama work on final push

With both presidential candidates making final appearances today in Florida, polls are showing the state is too close to call.

A poll released this morning by Quinnipiac University gives Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama a razor-thin 47-45 lead over Republican John McCain in Florida, but impressive leads in the other key swing states of Ohio, (50-43) and Pennsylvania, (52-42.)
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Florida officials: Sell state jet to save big money

The Legislature’s fiscal watchdog said Monday taxpayers could save big money by unloading the state’s executive jet and letting many of Florida’s top officials contend with Tallahassee’s notoriously bad commercial air service.
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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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