What's your opinion?

Only 2 homes have closed in '08 in the Country Club? How much does our local economy have to do with it?

Here's what our legislators think.

Both represent parts of Broward County. Both are members of the state Senate. And both spent the same 60-day legislative session in Tallahassee.

But state Sen. Jeremy Ring, D- Parkland, and state Sen. Jeff Atwater, R- North Palm Beach, who represents much of coastal Broward, have far different assessments of the session that wrapped up early this month.

Overriding everything at the session was the state budget. The spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is $66.2 billion, about $7 billion less than the state budget passed a year ago."We could have closed the gap. Tallahassee didn't have the political will to close the gap this year because it's an election year," Ring said recently to a largely Democratic crowd at Kings Point in Tamarac. "During the difficult times, the government has to step up."

Atwater, speaking to the Broward Republican Party, said the Legislature did just what it should in tough economic times."I have read the thousands of e-mails coming from Floridians who work across all the job sectors that you can imagine. The painter is painting fewer houses. The carpet layer is laying fewer carpets. The car salesman is selling fewer cars," he said."And all are asking for a common request at this time: Please allow me to maintain the resources that I have for the needs of my small business or the needs of my family," Atwater said. He said the Legislature "carefully tried" to honor that demand from the public.

Ring acknowledged the impact of the poor economy. "The budget crisis is real. That money is not there."But he disagrees with the approach outlined by Atwater.

He said the Republican majority should have been willing to consider ways to bring in more money.

Raising the cigarette tax $1 a pack, an idea sponsored by two Broward legislators — state Rep. Jim Waldman, D- Coconut Creek, and state Sen. Ted Deutch, D- Boca Raton — would have added $1 billion; taxing Internet sales would have brought in $3 billion, and eliminating loopholes in the state sales tax would have added almost $1 billion, Ring said.

Both senators said some good non-budget policy emerged from the session.

Ring said passing energy legislation was positive. And he cited the failure of several proposals — requiring women contemplating abortions to first have an ultrasound of the fetus, allowing the possibility of teaching intelligent design, and allowing an "I believe" Christian license plate.

Atwater praised measures designed to provide low-cost health insurance and to push insurance companies to pay claims more promptly.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4550

Let's hear from you.

I can't hear you!

Let's hear it!

Got something on your mind? Spill it out here. Any one can comment and you don't have to identify yourself.

Two weeks ago a gentleman from a marketing company that represents Scratch Golf called me. He wanted my help in promoting the re-zoning effort. I explained that I didn't want to take sides and that I was supposed to be neutral. I did tell him however, that he would be free to add his comments here on the blog. He never did.

I also had some calls from residents about the condition some people keep their property in. (or don't). I posted a blog about that, but no one commented.

I have also made it clear that you can make announcements (birth, birthday, marriage, or whatever) here.

OK! Enough of that. Real Estate. Whats happening in the Country Club? In the past 12 months 17 homes have closed. None in 2008! 3 are now pending and there are 53 for sale. This does not count For Sale by Owners.

Prices are still falling (mostly because they were overpriced to begin with). I don't look for price improvement until the excess inventory is gone and that may be a year or more away.

That's just my opinion. What's yours?