The depth of a budget that may have 2 billion fewer dollars than a year ago, along with the once-a-decade redistricting of political seats across the state, makes the gambling bill now before the Legislature a long shot, House Speaker Dean Cannon said.
I think its an uphill battle because of the amplitude of the budget shortfall, Cannon, R-Winter Park, said during an interview with Sunshine State News.
With the Florida primary only a month away, House Speaker Dean Cannon says his focus right now is on his final regular legislative session rather than making endorsements.
Nor is he thinking about his own long-term plans once his term expires next year.
Cannon, R-Winter Park, was among the Florida contingent that quickly jumped behind Texas Gov. Rick Perry in the Republican presidential primary.
Perry skyrocketed in the polls upon entering the race in August, but due to a series of debate gaffes, fell almost as quickly.
One cant but help love Florida, the only state that has its own tag on FARK.com, a website dedicated to tawdry, off-beat news stories.
Thus, it should come as no surprise that in a monumental year --when the Arab Spring and Occupy were said to be movements that fed on the high-tech connectivity, when Europes euro caused constant global financial uncertainty, when Japan faced nuclear peril following an earthquake and tsunami, and when Osama bin Laden was finally gunned down -- online users worldwide should be focused on something going on in Florida.
The Tampa Bay Rays' spectacular late-season run -- highlighted bylate-inningheroics from a light-hitting pinch hittercombined with the collapse of the Boston Red Sox -- was one of the most enjoyable sports stories for Florida in 2011.
Still, with college and professional football in a rebuilding mode across the state, the spectacular clunk of the NBAs superteam was Floridas top news story of 2011.
At least Gator fans can still dream of past glory on the gridiron in Denver, alongthe sidelines at South Carolina and, starting next year, at Ohio State.
When House members return to Tallahassee for the regular session, the speaker doesnt expect there to be much time for items outside of redistricting and the budget.
And those same members shouldnt plan on getting any bill heard if they cant find a senator to champion the effort in the other chamber.
President Barack Obama found his way into four of the top six most-read Sunshine State News reports in 2011 and, as no surprise, they are pieces that the White House occupant probably wont be highlighting in next years re-election effort.
If Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam wades further into the state gaming issues, his focus will be on the adult arcades that are commonly referred to as Internet cafes.
That would specifically mean the eight of the approximately 1,000 strip mall arcades across the state that offer sweepstakes prizes, rather than cash, that have registered as charities with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Debates over immigration got the year underway and gambling was the focus as fall turned to winter for Floridas leaders.
Meanwhile, transportation -- ports, trains and rocket ships -- and the potential economic impacts tied in with them stood out across the state, filled the Internet, TV, and even the once-dominant means of communication: newspapers.
But when it all came down to it, the top business item was the seemingly single-minded focus of the governor: jobs.
With some lawmakers saying the school was being made a scapegoat, the Florida A&M board of trustees rejected -- by keeping their president in place -- what they say was political pressure from Gov. Rick Scott.
Scott responded to the boards action with a terse note saying he only suggested what he continues to believe would be in the best interests of the university, but that he will abide by the boards decision.
