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.

More:

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.
Read more…

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.

Read more…

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.
Read more…

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.
Read more

Threat letter with powder sent to Gov. Crist

Florida authorities are investigating a threatening letter sent to Gov. Charlie Crist that contained a suspicious but nontoxic white powder.
Read more…

Amendment 5 off the ballot, but "Protect Florida’s Future" campaign continues

With colored blocks and a stuffed toy ostrich, an influential legislative money manager wound up his 10-city campaign against the tax-swap constitutional amendment Monday.
Read more…

Fla. GOP warned public opinion low

ORLANDO — A national Republican pollster warned Florida GOP activists that public sentiment is running against their party on key economic issues Friday and said the presidential race is going to be incredibly close.
Read more…

Leon circuit judge pulls Florida tax-swap amendment from ballot

A circuit judge Thursday threw the tax-swap constitutional amendment off Florida’s November ballot, saying its legal title and summary do not tell voters what the proposal really does.
Read more…

Candidates say tough budget choices require some creative thinking

Leon County legislative candidates agreed Wednesday that Florida’s fiscal crisis requires government to make tough choices about budget priorities and look for new revenue sources.
Read more…