An idea gaining support in a tax-reform panel would cut all property taxes in Hillsborough County by more than 20 percent. ...more

January 20, 2008

Democrats running Congress for the first time in more than a decade faltered at key points this year as they grudgingly passed important bills opposed by many, or most, of their House members. When Republicans were in charge, they generally avoided a similar fate. ...more

December 22, 2007

The decades-long decline in smoking by Americans has stalled for three years, the first time smoking rates have leveled off for that long since the federal government began collecting statistics more than 40 years ago. ...more

November 9, 2007

In 2002, my husband and I began investing in property in Highlands County. This county has always been a great place to "get away from it all." The fishing is fabulous, the traffic less congested and the beauty breath-taking. We were extremely excited to be able to retire early in 2006 to an area that we both love and enjoy. Our excitement quickly disappeared as we reviewed our 2006 Highlands County property tax bills. Our taxes had increased by 62 percent! If this county had adequate staff in 2005, why would a small 3 percent decrease this year (2007) be such a big deal when increases of 62 percent and higher in the prior year should have more than covered any additional staffing needs for police and fire protection? I am sick of hearing how devastating this tax rollback is for the county. What about the tax increase from 2005 to 2006 that many of us have been burdened with? What happened to those extra funds? A 3 percent rollback is peanuts compared to the previous years' increase. ...more

October 20, 2007

The property tax problem was never one of total tax revenues being too high, rather it was one of unfairness. Unfair because one group underpays for the services it receives from local governments and another group overpays. ...more

September 30, 2007

The Bush administration said in a new report Monday that Social Security is facing a $13.6 trillion shortfall and that delaying needed reforms is not fair to younger workers. ...more

September 25, 2007