Attracting younger physicians to Florida could help close health care access gaps and improve the state economy, according to a report from taxpayer watchdog Florida TaxWatch. The report calls for increasing the number of Graduate Medical Education programs, more commonly known as medical residencies, to attract additional doctors.

Florida lawmakers will have a $635 million surplus when they craft the 2016-17 state budget, but in a new research report, Florida TaxWatch warns that spending the entire surplus will create a deficit in the near future.

South Florida’s economy has seen considerable growth in recent years, thanks to a wide variety of investment options for foreign and domestic investors, according to a commentary from Florida TaxWatch, the independent, nonpartisan research group. A burgeoning innovation sector, increased foreign investment and a bolstered financial services market have augmented the region’s rapid growth.

College football victories are associated with better student recruitment, according to a recent report from Florida TaxWatch. The Economic Commentary highlights the residual academic benefits experienced by universities with winning sports teams.

State economists predict lawmakers will have $657.5 million more than previously anticipated for the next state budget. The latest General Revenue (GR) forecast shows the state’s GR fund is expected to reach $31.6 billion for the 2016-17 budget year. The growing available funds mean recurring revenues exceed current recurring expenses by $1.6 billion.

This week, President Obama announced the commutation of 46 nonviolent federal offenders, offering them a second chance. Eleven of these offenders who will be released early from their prison sentences are Floridians who have a unique opportunity to re-assimilate into their communities and become productive taxpaying citizens in the Sunshine State.

Despite lawmakers’ efforts to increase transparency while crafting the 2015-16 Florida state budget, 189 projects worth $167 million were inserted into the budget without sufficient public scrutiny, or circumventing established budget processes, according to the Florida TaxWatch 2015 Budget Turkey Watch Report: An analysis of the accountability and transparency of the budget process.

Florida TaxWatch celebrated Taxpayer Independence Day on Monday, April 20, 2015. Taxpayer Independence Day is the first day in the calendar year that Florida taxpayers, on average, begin earning income that does not go toward federal, state and local taxes. Yesterday, the Florida Senate, led by Senator Jeff Brandes, recognized that Florida remains a low-tax state by adopting Senate Resolution 1668.

“Florida taxpayers and their children are facing more than $10.5 billion in debt due to increasingly rich and consistently over-promised government pensions. These obligations will be paid by taxpayers who don’t have access to similar benefits in the private sector, because pension plan beneficiaries take on no risk, yet the taxpayers indemnify losses…

Statement from Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, the independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog: “Today, the Florida House Finance and Tax Committee unveiled their plans to cut Floridians’ taxes by $690 million this year. I commend the House leaders for their efforts to produce a broad-based tax cut package that will help save money for hardworking Florida families and the businesses that invest in our communities and provide jobs to our residents.