This was supposed to be a golden era for South Florida, an unprecedented four-year period of political power where lawmakers with ties to Miami-Dade and Broward counties -- and the clout to bring the area money and push for local priorities -- were firmly in charge of the Florida Legislature.
His last moments in power ticking away, House Speaker Marco Rubio kneaded his forehead with his hands and turned his back to the rest of the chamber. It had happened again.
LEGISLATURE
Despite agonizing budget cuts that dominated debate during this year's legislative session, the business community said it fared relatively well, defeating a corporate-tax hike proposal, several insurance mandates and an arbitration bill that would have opened the door to lawsuits.
LEGISLATURE
In an agonizing last-minute decision that caused the Capitol rotunda to erupt in cheers, the Legislature signed off Friday on a plan that forces private insurance companies for the first time to cover kids with autism.
FLORIDA HOUSE
Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban exiles who climbed the political ranks to become Florida's first Cuban-American speaker of the state House of Representatives, bade an emotional farewell Friday afternoon, choking back tears as he spoke about his motivation to succeed: his parents.
MIAMI-DADE
In the last day of the legislative session, Miami-Dade lawmakers went one-for-two on affordable housing bills they've pushed throughout the 60-day session.
TRANSPORTATION
Tri-Rail riders may be facing no weekend service and a 60 percent cut in weekday trains in the fall, after the state Legislature failed Friday to pass a major commuter rail bill that jeopardizes funding for the South Florida train.
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
Florida lawmakers ended their annual session Friday by approving a tight-fisted state budget and stitching together plans to provide modest health coverage to kids with autism, the working poor and small businesses.
Ten state lawmakers from Miami-Dade and Broward are leaving office this year. Here's a look at their tenure in the Legislature.
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
Florida lawmakers on Friday gave swift approval to a $66.2 billion state budget, sending a spending plan to Gov. Charlie Crist that cuts overall spending by a record $4 billion.
LEGISLATURE
Almost as soon as she found out her lender had filed foreclosure, Deneen Whitley began getting phone calls, letters and pamphlets from foreclosure rescue services offering to save her Cutler Bay home from the clutches of the bank.
