The Florida Legislature is still in session, so...

So be very afraid. But that's true of every government body that can take your property through taxation.

There's a couple of weeks remaining in the regular legislative session. So, where do we stand?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - House Speaker Larry Cretul said Tuesday that he's willing to consider most tax increases the Senate has proposed if it agrees to what he wants: bigger spending cuts.

Cretul, R-Ocala, told the House he hasn't yet been able to reach an agreement on that sticking point in talks with Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach.

Until the two leaders settle on basic revenue and overall spending numbers, lawmakers can't begin formal negotiations over the details of the next state budget.

The Senate has proposed a $65.6 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. It's $549 million higher than the House version.

The House plan also doesn't include Senate tax increases of $1 a pack for cigarettes and $1 an ounce for other tobacco products including cigars. It also doesn't include measures that would close loopholes in corporate and real estate transaction taxes.

Lawmakers have only a week to settle budget issues and adjourn the regular legislative session on schedule May 1. That's because a compromise budget must be completed at least 72 hours before a final vote can be taken.

So, don't worry: there will be more taxes. This from our Republican (!!) controlled senate and house.

Helluva world!

And it will affect many more than just smokers.

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Speaking of smokers, the Florida Senate seems to have it in for you according to this April 9th story. You seem very ripe for the plucking.

TALLAHASSEE -- In an attempt to suppress the sale of tax-free cigarettes sold on Florida's Indian reservations, state senators want the tribes' smokes labeled ''Indian cigarettes'' and any non-Indian caught with them forced to pay a $1,000 fine and face misdemeanor charges.

The provision was tacked onto a Senate bill to raise the cigarette tax $1 per pack late Tuesday night. Lawmakers fear that when the tax hike takes effect, buyers will flood Indian reservations to get the lower-priced cigarettes and undercut state tax collections.

''This is a way to prevent untaxed cigarettes from being sold in our state,'' said Sen. Thad Altman, a Melbourne Republican who sponsored the amendment in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. "I really don't think the intent is to start throwing folks in jail.''

Here's reality...people will be thrown in jail. This tax increase, on top of the feds tax increase, will not raise the amounts of revenues projected. People who want smokes will go underground, or drive a couple of hours to buy from the Seminoles. The tribal members will now be subject to white man's justice for just supplying a legal commodity in the old capitalistic manner.

Helluva world!