Gov. Rick Scott announced that LATAM Airlines is expanding its operations in South Florida with LAN Cargo building a maintenance facility at Miami International Airport, leading to 300 new jobs and $20 million in additional investments. Scott said part of this expansion came from a meeting with the LATAM CEO during his trade mission in Chile.

With Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst winning the Republican primary on Tuesday in the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., cheered the news on Wednesday. Rubio, a potential Republican presidential contender in 2016, backed Ernst in the competitive primary. Iowa traditionally holds the first presidential caucus.

Rubio insisted the results prove that conservatives across the country can come together to elect real conservative leaders in competitive races.

Former U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., went on the attack against President Barack Obama on Wednesday, insisting the deal to release five Taliban leaders in exchange for a captured American soldier was a dangerous precedent.

America now negotiates with terrorists, West insisted on Wednesday. This is a dangerous precedent and was done unilaterally by President Obama when he secured the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl ... a deserter who abandoned his post leaving his weapon behind.

From his perch on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Rep.Ted Yoho, R-Fla., said he opposed the deal to release five members of the Taliban in exchange for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

"It's the policy of the United States of America, Yoho told WOKV in Jacksonville on Tuesday. We don't negotiate with terrorists."

"Our enemies don't fear or respect us and I think respect is the most important part here," Yoho added.

The United States Chamber of Commerce honored U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., with the Spirit of Enterprise award.

2013 was challenging, but Rep. Ander Crenshaw worked to pass legislation and enact policies that will keep our country moving forward economically," said Thomas Donohue, the president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber. The Spirit of Enterprise Award recognizes legislators like Rep. Crenshaw who have demonstrated their commitment to supporting pro-growth policies in the 113th Congress.

On Tuesday, Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) President Matt Walter announced that Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto will serve on the Executive Committee of the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee (RLCC). Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, also serves on the RLCCs Executive Committee.

JaxBiz, a group with ties to the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, announced on Tuesday it was backing Gov. Rick Scott for a second term.

U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., teamed up with U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., on Monday calling for the Obama White House to stop federal aid going to the Palestinian Authority after Hamas backed the new government. The senators released the following statement:

Israel has gone to great lengths in recent months to negotiate in good faith with the Palestinian Authority, but President Abbas announcement earlier today of a Hamas-backed Palestinian transitional government makes clear once again that Israel does not have a viable partner for peace.

Former Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Chairman Lenny Curry filed his paperwork to run against Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown on Tuesday.

It is official, Curry posted on Twitter. I filed to run for mayor of Jacksonville this AM.

Curry joins fellow Republican City Councilman Bill Bishop in the race.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi made her case about why she is defending the state constitutional amendment which mandates only traditional marriage is recognized in the Sunshine State.

Bondi released a statement on Monday night about her role in defending the law in the current challenge from same-sex couples wishing to be married in Florida.

In the statement, Bondi said: