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Governor Charlie Crist and the state�s legislative leaders answered tough questions about taxes and budget cuts from editors and reporters today at the state capitol. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the speeches had a common theme.

Hear it Here: Taxes

From the House Speaker
�Let me say that I think everything is on the table,� Ray Sansom (R-Destin) said.

To the Minority Leader
�The whole thing is on the table,� Franklin Sands (D-Weston) said.

And even the Senate President
�Is there room on the upside for a cigarette tax? I believe that there is,� Jeff Atwater (R-Palm Beach) said. �Looking back on the burden that we�re placing on property taxes, through the RLE, required local effort, I think all those things are going to be on the table.�

The talk is of finding money to balance the budget.

Despite all the rhetoric, the state income tax isn�t really on the table. What is here is higher revenue from gambling, higher cigarette tax, maybe a tax on stocks and bonds, some alcoholic beverage taxes are on the table, even a tax on bottled water, and dry cleaning.

�You know, we�ve plucked a billion here and a billion there and pretty soon, as they say, we�re going to be talking about serious money,� Sands said.

Everyone at the state level is looking for help from Washington Governor Charlie Crist told editors.

�It�s important to have a level of optimism,� Crist said.

A new poll shows 72 percent favor a cigarette the tax. But those numbers aren�t persuading the Governor…yet.

�It doesn�t change my mind about it,� the Governor said.

But he conceded it�s more likely than ever that a cigarette tax hike, along with the smorgasbord of other fee increases, is going to get to his desk.

�I think what we�ll do is see what the House and Senate do with that issue and give it thoughtful review,� Crist said.

And that�s when tough choices will have to be made.