Gov. Rick Scott is keeping Ken Lawson as secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). I am proud to announce the reappointment of Ken Lawson as secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Scott said on Tuesday. Ken has worked every day to streamline the permitting process and reduce burdensome regulations. Under his leadership at DBPR, we have cut professional license wait times from 41 days to an average of two days. Ken has played an integral role in creating a business climate conducive to growth and expansion."

Gov. Rick Scott announced on Tuesday that juvenile arrests continued to drop in Florida, with a reduction of 8 percent in 2013-14. A new report from the state Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has found a 36 percent decline in juvenile arrests in the last five years, leading to the lowest juvenile arrest level in more than 30 years..

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Monday that her office has asked the U.S. Supreme Court for a stay of a federal decision which would allow same-sex marriage in the Sunshine State. Under the current decision, the amendment to the Florida Constitution recognizing only traditional marriage approved by voters at the ballot box in 2008 will come to an end on Jan. 5.

The Revenue Estimating Conference released a report on Monday showing Floridas general revenue is up $296 million while next year the general revenue will be almost $332 million higher than expected forecasts. Gov. Rick Scott said the increased revenue shows Floridas economy is coming back strong.

Gov. Rick Scott said on Monday that Dr. John Armstrong will stay on in his administration as Florida surgeon general and secretary of the Florida Department of Health (DOH).

Former Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Chairman Lenny Curry announced on Monday that he had reeled in the support of three members of the Florida Cabinet as he runs against Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, the first Democrat to hold that post since former Mayor Ed Austin in the early 1990s. State Attorney General Pam Bondi, Floridas CFO Jeff Atwater and state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said on Monday they were backing Curry.

As the Democrats ready to cede control of the U.S. Senate to Republicans in the coming weeks, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., now in the middle of his third term, will rank as one of the senior Democrats in the chamber.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a possible contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, announced on Friday that he would take up U.S. Rep. Ted Yohos, R-Fla., Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act in the Senate. Yohos bill to prevent President Barack Obama from using an executive order to allow illegals a path to stay in the nation passed the U.S. House earlier this month.

The U.S. House voted to pass the $1.1. trillion omnibus federal spending bill on Thursday by a narrow margin, 219-206, with the Florida delegation breaking along unusual lines.

With the U.S. House passing sanctions, including freezing assets, on the Venezuelan leadership on Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott urged President Barack Obama to back the measure now that its headed to his desk.

Gov. Rick Scott focused on rural road improvement on Thursday, appearing in Belle Glade to focus on how that town, Pahokee and South Bay will receive $3.8 million in his Rural Areas of Opportunity program.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., will hold a public event on Mental Health and Substance Abuse at Rasmussen College in Land O' Lakes next week and he will be joined by a congressman from Pennsylvania. Bilirakis announced on Thursday that U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., will be at the event on Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., saw his Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Actpass the U.S. House last week and expects the U.S. Senate to pass it in the coming days, but now he is looking to rename the bill after a supporter of it who passed away earlier this week.

On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., issued his take on the omnibus federal spending bill currently in Congress. Rubio insisted the bill was flawed but praised it for not providing bailouts to insurance companies in the wake of President Barack Obamas federal health-care law.

Gov. Rick Scott named Julie Jones as secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) on Wednesday. Jones will take the post on Jan. 5.