U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., a member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, urged President Barack Obama to quickly replace Chuck Hagel, who is on his way out as secretary of defense.

Gov. Rick Scott announced on Monday that Tim Cannon will lead the Florida Department of Corrections on an interim basis after Tim Crews resigned earlier in the day. Sec. Crews has worked hard to make Florida communities safer, and we appreciate his service to the state, Scott said. Tim Cannon has served at the Department of Corrections for over two decades, and his experience will provide the Department with the leadership necessary for keeping families and our correctional officers safe.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, led eight other Republican congressmen from Florida -- Ander Crenshaw, Ron DeSantis, Richard Nugent, Tom Rooney, Dennis Ross, Steve Southerland, Dan Webster and Ted Yoho -- in writing the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday. The congressmen took aim at proposed carbon emissions rules included in the Clean Power Plan (CPP) which, they insist, will lead to higher costs for Floridians.

From her perch as chairwoman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., is not happy that talks with Iran on its nuclear program have been extended past the Monday deadline. Ros-Lehtinen called for Congress to impose new sanctions on Iran when Republicans take control of the Senate in January.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is calling on three Florida Republican congressmen -- Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan and John Mica -- to stand against increased wind subsidies. AFP is running ads in Florida newspapers urging the three congressmen to oppose these alternative energy subsidies.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton starts out 2016 as the favorite to win the Florida primary for the Democratic presidential nomination. Gravis Marketing unveiled a new poll this past weekend showing Clinton claiming 51 percent of Florida Democrats. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., stands in distant second with 18 percent followed by Vice President Joe Biden with 12 percent. Two governors -- Martin OMalley of Maryland and Andrew Cuomo -- lag far behind. OMalley takes 4 percent and Cuomo 2 percent.

A poll released over the weekend shows former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is the favorite son of Florida Republicans to be president in 2016. Gravis Marketing unveiled a poll on Sunday which shows Bush out front with 33 percent followed by fellow Florida Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio with 14 percent. Two Republican senators -- Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky -- are knotted up in third with 11 percent each.

A senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said he was saddened that U.S. Defense Sec. Chuck Hagel is leaving the Obama administration. Chuck Hagel is a great patriot, Nelson said on Monday. And I believe he has been a very good secretary of defense. Im saddened that the White House was unable to keep him.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and a possible contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, slammed the news that efforts to reach a deal to limit Irans nuclear program have been extended past its Monday deadline.

With Thanksgiving looming later this week, Florida TaxWatch noted on Monday that Floridians should give thanks for the Sunshine State not being one of 14 states taxing most groceries. Still, there are some grocery items which are taxed in the Sunshine State. Florida TaxWatch released a report on Monday showing which grocery goods -- from catered items to alcohol -- are taxed.

Harold Ickes, a close adviser to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, spoke to the media on Friday and said if she runs for president in 2016, the Republican ticket that could give her the most problems would come from two perennial swing states: Florida and Ohio.

A new poll shows former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is a contender in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary, if former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., decides not to run for president in 2016. A Bloomberg/St. Anslem College poll released Monday shows Romney remains the favorite in New Hampshire, which he won in 2012, with 30 percent. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., places second with 11 percent, followed by Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., with 9 percent, Bush with 8 percent and a gaggle of candidates polling in low to mid single digits.

The Leon County Sheriff's Office is not yet releasing the name of a deputy ambushed, shot and killed while responding to a 10 a.m Saturday house fire at 3722 Caracus Court in Tallahassee. Lt. James McQuaig, LCSO spokesman, said the department will release tha information on Sunday. The gunman took the weapon from the deputy as he lay on the ground, then walked down the street firing it. In the process he shot and wounded another deputy.

Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, unveiled three bills to cut taxes on Friday. Noting Florida was ranked as the fourth highest wireless taxes in the nation in a recent study from the Tax Foundation, Hukill is, like she did last year, looking to roll back communications taxes. "These taxes are paid every month and when combined with federal taxes, are an extreme burden on Florida's families and businesses," Hukill said.

Gov. Rick Scott announced on Friday that the Sunshine State saw 32,000 new jobs in October as the state unemplyment rate dropped to 6 percent from 6.1 percent in September.