States worry about slumping retail sales revenue, Reuters

December 15, 2008
By Jim Christie

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Todd Gerardo's layoff means work for someone else in Arizona, where state officials this month will have more than doubled their staff with new employees for processing unemployment benefits.

Gerardo, of Gilbert, Arizona, said he knew his days were numbered as a car salesman when he managed to make only minimum wage last month. His dealership let him go on December 3.

For the rest of this story, click here.

For a related story, click here.

Special session called to close state budget gap, Miami Herald

December 15, 2008
By Marc Caputo and Mary Ellen Klas

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida's legislative leaders announced Monday that they will convene an extraordinary lawmaking session Jan. 5 to close the state's ever-widening $2.3 billion budget hole.

The Republican leaders' joint announcement said legislators will focus on cutting the budget and shifting money from savings accounts and other funds. Tax and fee increases look like they're off the table.

For the rest of this article, click here.

For related stories, click here and here.

Sansom's credibilty gone, Palm Beach Post

December 14, 2008


Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom, R-Destin, just doesn't know when it's time to quit.

Seriously.

He should have quit, either as speaker or as a vice president at Northwest Florida State College, when it was reported that the college hired him last month for $110,000 in a sweetheart arrangement after Rep. Sansom finagled $200,000 from a shrinking state budget for a "leadership institute" at the school. As The Post reported, he faxed the job application from his House office.

For the rest of this editorial, click here.

For related stories, click here and here.

Universities brace for budget cuts, St. Joseph News (Missouri)

December 15, 2008
By Jimmy Myers

A collective “ugh” is resounding in finance offices across higher education institutions as they brace for possible drastic budget cuts.

The previous economic downturn put the hit on state budgets, which in the 2003 fiscal year trickled down to a 10 percent swipe away from Northwest Missouri State University and Missouri Western State University’s operating budgets.

For the rest of this article, click here.

Florida's budget choice: Invest in success or pay for failure

December 14, 2008
By Roy Miller


After receiving a high quality education from a public school and public university in this state, I've spent the next 35 years in service and advocacy to Florida's children. There has never been a time when I was more afraid for the children in Florida than I am now.AC = -->

I have served as a member of the advocacy team that led many important and successful reform efforts on behalf of Florida's children, youth and their families. For example, our state shuttered the decrepit and disgraceful institutions warehousing developmentally disabled and mentally ill children so they could be served better and with caring dignity in community-based settings. Our Healthy Start and children's health insurance programs became national models in providing preventive care and access to doctors and nurses without resorting to emergency rooms for routine care.

For the rest of this op ed, click here.

Is the goal more prison cells or fewer prisoners? St. Pete Times

December 14, 2008
By Howard Troxler

The way to deal with crime is to put criminals in prison. If we need more prisons, we will build them.

The purpose of prison is to punish and to protect society — not to rehabilitate.

For the past quarter-century or so, this has been the stated policy of Florida.
Florida was a leader among the states

For the rest of this column, click here.

Rep. Weatherford: Funding will be biggest issue on education committees, St. Pete Times

December 14, 2008
By Jeffrey S. Solochek

State Rep. Will Weatherford, a Wesley Chapel Republican, is a contender to be House speaker in 2012. This session he will serve on several education-related committees, including as chairman of the State and Community Colleges and Workforce Appropriations Committee. He shared his thoughts on the upcoming session, education funding and priorities for the next two years.

You're going to be on all these education committees and councils. What do you see as the key issues coming up during session?

For the rest of this interview, click here.