Florida taxpayers had such high hopes for the 2011 Legislature. With supermajorities in both houses and what Mike Haridopolos initially called the "most conservative" Senate in history, Gov. Rick Scott's smaller-government agenda appeared all but assured.

But to use baseball parlance, there were no home runs, a few scratch hits and lots of strikeouts at the Capitol.

While liberal groups like Progress Florida, predictably, had little positive to say about the session, the real rage was on the right.

The fight over SunRail is switching into high gear as business interests and community activists square off on the controversial project.

The proposed 61-mile commuter line has the strong backing of Central Florida's legislative delegation, and, last week, the Associated Industries of Florida, reiterated its support.

Echoing economic-development claims made by advocates of the scotched high-speed rail venture, proponents say SunRail will generate employment.

School districts around Florida say they are bracing for more big cuts after the Legislature passed a $16.6 billion K-12 education budget.

But the sky-is-falling scenario isn't universally embraced, and legislative leaders say Chicken Little is not coming home to roost.

While their reading scores have been nothing to write home about, Florida students continue to post top numbers with the FCAT essays.

The state Department of Education announced Wednesday that pupils in grades 4, 8 and 10 scored "historic highs" on the writing test this year.

Our educators continue to rise to the occasion, answering the call of increased expectations for our students to ensure they are leaving school ready for the next step, said Florida Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith.

In the first leg of a political trifecta, Florida Republicans will conduct a straw poll that could determine the 2012 presidential race.

Some 3,500 state delegates will convene for "Presidency 5" in Orlando to hear the crowded field of GOP contenders debate and to cast the nation's first significant straw ballots Sept. 22-24.

Hosted by the Republican Party of Florida, the previous four Presidency summits have set the tone for GOP presidential campaigns.

Florida House and Senate budget negotiators have agreed to a tax shift that could benefit corporations doing business in the state.

Proponents say the "single sales factor" formula would remove a tax disincentive for corporations to locate property and jobs in Florida.

Senate Bill 2040 must clear the Senate Budget Committee by day's end, according to the latest timetable. Still bottled up by Chairman J.D. Alexander, the heavily amended measure would require employers to use the federal E-Verify database or Real ID-compliant driver's license identification to screen new hires.

The driver's license alternative was added by Judiciary Chairwoman Anitere Flores, but the addition has not garnered support.