Posted by  Rick O'Keefe, Center for Inquiry/Florida; 5201 W Kannedy Blvd, T on 08/29  at  11:36 AM

Perhaps putting science/realism into political decision making isn’t impossible!
Consider the combination of neo-conservative politics, conservative religion, the failure of public education to teach logic and critical thinking—there is an antidote:
The poisoned fruits of non-responsive politics and superstitions can be overcome.
Voting for either major political party engenders no change or improvement - especially in your own life. Isn’t that clear enough by now?

Posted by  Naomi Rodrigues, Town and country on 05/31  at  07:36 PM

Dear sirs,
    This is about a paid political advertisementon page 9. I know that everyone has the right to their own opinion. but I feel that it waasn’t nessassary for them to make it sound as if a child was going to be suffering if he or she was raised by a gay couple. or even knows a gay couple. I know there are a lot of people who hate homosexual marrages, but feel there is no difference in it. Having one parent does not cause a child to suffer. I beleive deep in my heart that haveing two parents of the same sex doesn’t cause a child to suffer, and I think it’s wrong for them to suggest it.

Posted by  Bruce Keffer, Dade City on 05/08  at  09:00 AM

They should pay for drug and lie detector exams for all government officials from Florida.
With the $billions remaining they should reward the politicians who are drug free and honest with projects in their localities.

Posted by  Delbert W Allegood, Zephyrhills,Fl on 04/26  at  05:32 PM

Our fathers built school buildings to be proud of’not temporary lttle boxes.Our infrastructure is years behind.  The labor hating, artificial poverty mandate world corp has defined for itself,is spilling over into government.We have big box waiting lines at the places there used to be service to the public.We hear government crying poor mouth and see them unwilling to raise minimum wages to alleviate the problem.There is a surplus. The people who were “entitled"to recieve it,for service rendered,had it stolen from them.Is it too much to ask that our government keep it’s promises to its own people.Perhaps not, since the citizens of Mexico have a better chance of being heard,with this government, than I do.Delbert W. Allegood npublici

Posted by  Paul Humphries, Gainesville on 03/16  at  10:14 PM

Put it toward Florida and America’s security.  What is the best security?  The best security is a well educated and well informed and well armed public—Of course, that is the greatest fear of any government.

Also, just because you have it, it does not mean you have to spend it.

Posted by  scott ickes, soon to be in Tampa on 03/08  at  12:47 AM

How should Florida spend it’s improved budget? Support for progressive education for under 5’s that responds to a child’s needs at this age and encourages creativity, imagination, social interaction and physical engagement with the natural world.

Posted by  Lily Freeman, Tampa,Fl on 03/05  at  10:10 PM

They should hold on to the money for a rainy and windy day. Leave it in surplus to help Florida recover from
future hurricanes, or to prevent the deaths of poor people who can’t evacuate.

Posted by  Charles Welch, St. Petersburg, Fl on 03/05  at  08:26 PM

SAVE IT in interest bearing accounts.  Not every year will there be a surplus and hurricane season is coming again.

Posted by  eric wilhelmson, palm harbor, fl on 03/05  at  08:20 PM

It is obvious. Give it back to the taxpayers.

Posted by  Faye Coe, Tampa, FL on 03/05  at  07:30 PM

I would re-look at those items that they decided we really didn’t want such as the bullet train and the class size amendment.  These are part of the infra-structure of this state that is falling apart.  Our roads are dismal, our educations system is mediocre, our state coleges are bursting at the seams, and the uncontrolled growth is causing numerous problems.  This money is the money we, as citizen tax payers of the state of Florida, should be clamoring for them (the legislature and the govenor) to spend on these increasing needs.

Posted by  Eric Boyer, Lakeland on 03/05  at  04:43 PM

I would do three things:  first, I would give some back to the citizens of the state, then, since Florida is growing so much, put some towars improving our infrastructure - schools, roads, hospitals; finally I would put the rest in an investment account so that when the economy is not as good we have a reserve to pull from to keep us out of debt.

Posted by  Sandra P, tampa on 03/05  at  04:32 PM

I think some of the surplus should be given to the Pinellas County school board who is having problems balancing their budget. This way the money is used for education (one of the already possible plans) and no schools will be closed (which would be a step backwards). We already need more schools why not make sure that the ones that we already have stay open.

Posted by  CathyC, Zephyrhills, Florida on 03/05  at  03:36 PM

I’d put it all into the school system since we hear so much about how the schools don’t have enough money.

Posted by  Rose, Spring Hill on 03/05  at  03:01 PM

hire more police to get rid of the aggressive, stupid drivers!  I’m so sick of risking my life daily just to get back and forth to work.

Posted by  John Golly, Sarasota/Bradenton on 03/05  at  02:03 PM

I would try to find a way to use the money to address the outlandish cost of wind and flood insurance first. Other areas that need help include small business, Education and soaring property taxes.

Posted by  Rodney McGinnis, Grand Rapids on 03/05  at  01:14 PM

with how poor we treat our Vets they need to update the VA hospitals. Give better health care.Better treatment. Hire more staff. We send our troops to war,but when they get hurt we won’t take care of them. HOW SAD

Posted by  Connie Yurkus, Seminole, Florida on 03/05  at  12:35 PM

I’d start by keeping open the Vo-tech school they are talking about closing in Seminole.  Why are they closing schools that serve this sort of need for our future when the state has room in it’s budget to fix this problem?

Posted by  Barry Turska, Homosassa (Citrus County) on 03/05  at  11:53 AM

I think an appropriate amount of the surplus should be allocated to Citzens Insurance to cover costs of the past hurricanes. I would hope that all property owners in Florida would benefit from this, whether they have Citzens coverage or not.  I think this would be a much better way to cover these costs than the idea of sending out one time $100 checks.

Posted by  Jim Mullen, Tampa on 03/05  at  11:36 AM

I think investing it in our community work force would be a wise investment.  Offering low rate mortgages for “critical need” middle income employees like teachers, nurses, and firemen would help eliminate the shortages. Another idea would be to donate land tracks to developers with the stipulation that they build affordable homes that could only be sold to buyers in the critical needs positions.