Pumping up the South Florida economy remains a work in progress, but nothing that we do as a state or nation will matter if we neglect the most vulnerable among us or destroy the natural treasures that have made the Sunshine State a special place to live, work and play.

Still facing a tough economy, Florida and its counties and cities also must be frugal with the public’s money. The years of indiscriminate spending based on fat tax rolls are over, and most local governments have done a good job of cutting perks that are unsustainable, such as automatic pay increases.

But across-the-board cuts to crucial programs that care for the sick and elderly and handing out indiscriminate tax breaks that have shown to not produce more jobs or economic benefits, as happened last year in the Legislature, are neither wise nor sustainable. Being the cheapest state in the union won’t attract new employers unless our education, health institutions and cultural offerings are top-notch.

Reaching a balance that rewards innovation — tax breaks for, say, clean energy or biotech companies that have shown to produce good-paying jobs — can be achieved. Yet Tallahassee keeps ignoring one source of revenue that would produce hundreds of millions of dollars for the state: Internet sales. This is not a “new” tax — it’s a fairness issue. Retailers that have invested in Florida are right to demand an equal playing field. Stop dilly-dallying, Legislature.

Protecting frail, infirm

Healthcare remains the No. 1 challenge to the nation’s well-being, both in spending and in the quality of care. In Florida, the health and safety of children and of residents of assisted-living facilities must be addressed by the Legislature with zero tolerance for abusive and neglectful ALFs.

Fighting fraud in Medicare and Medicaid must become proactive so that government payments are not made to providers until it’s proven that services were rendered.

The constitutionality of the federal healthcare law will be decided by the Supreme Court this year, but Florida already is behind because the Scott administration has refused to use federal money to start planning for the law. Without reform, the nation will be doomed with ever higher costs and no guarantees of quality care.

Meanwhile, Jackson Health System keeps dripping red ink, but there are signs that 2012 will bring a more focused stewardship of Miami-Dade’s internationally renown teaching hospital. We’ll continue to push for turning the public hospital into a nonprofit operation free of political meddling.

Saving natural jewels

Last year was a terrible year for Everglades restoration and protection of people’s property rights with the virtual dismantling of the state Department of Community Affairs. We will continue to expose shenanigans and fight for protecting the Urban Development Boundary in Miami-Dade to protect the River of Grass from encroaching development.

We’ll also be looking to the best way to deepen the Port of Miami without hurting the jewel of Biscayne Bay. There can be no mistakes on that project, for the bay is a spectacular asset to be protected.