Charlie Crist unveiled a new policy plan to promote middle-class jobs and opportunity on Tuesday. Crist's "Fair Shot Plan" outlines several policies he promises to enact if elected governor: restoring public school funding, raising the minimum wage, creating a student loan forgiveness program and extending health care coverage across the state.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) announced on Tuesday it was endorsing U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., for another term in Congress. Crenshaw faces former Navy Captain Ryman Shoaf, a former staffer for U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., in the Republican primary on Aug. 26. Lisa Goeas, the vice president of political operations for the NFIB, wrote Crenshaw and praised his record.

U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., praised the GOP-led House on Friday for passing bills on immigration, while hammering the Democrat-controlled Senate. On Friday, the House passed legislation to address the crisis at the southern border, DeSantis insisted on Monday. DeSantis said allowing the National Guard to protect the border will reduce illegal immigration. and claiming the legislation would ensure President Barack Obama would not be able to offer amnesty to illegals.

With reports that some insurance rates will go up due to President Barack Obamas federal health-care law, Gov. Rick Scott is looking to tie former Gov. Charlie Crist to it. Scott rose to political prominence by leading Conservatives for Patients Rights (CPR) against Obamas proposal.

The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) released a TV ad in Spanish on Tuesday on behalf of Gov. Rick Scotts re-election efforts. The ad features businessman Hector Marulanda who notes in the commercial that his Impel America Appliances in Doral added workers, doubling its staff, due to Scotts economic policy.

Another South Florida judge has struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage. Broward County Circuit Judge Dale Cohen ruled Monday that Florida's 2008 ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional.

The Florida Medical Association (FMA) announced on Monday it was strongly opposed to Amendment 2, a proposal to expand medical marijuana in the Sunshine State. If the amendment gets 60 percent of support on the November ballot, it will pass.

With a special session starting Thursday as the Florida Legislature tries to redraw congressional districts by Aug. 15, much of the work will be done at the committee level. In the Senate, Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, will be leading the select committee on redistricting as chairman. Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, will be the vice chairman. Other members of the committee are Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Orange Park, Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, and Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs.

On Monday, Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, and Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, officially called a special session to redraw congressional districts after a Leon County circuit judge ruled their previous efforts failed to pass constitutional muster.

Florida TaxWatch released a report on Monday which finds tourism led to almost 76,000 jobs being added to the Sunshine State last year. The report also shows Florida is well-positioned to bring 100 million visitors next year, adding even more jobs across the state.

Media reports emerged this weekend noting that the Obama administration authorized sending young people from Latin America to Cuba to push for more democracy under the cover of doing work for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on health issues and other matters. U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., a longtime critic of the Castro regime, supported USAIDs role and said the media should look more closely at the communist governments policies.

After Republicans controlling the U.S. House passed immigration bills on Friday, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., said the GOP had sent a clear message to President Barack Obama on the matter, including cutting off potential amnesty plans from the White House.

Getting ready for the general election, Gov. Rick Scott is turning toward the environment as he starts his Lets Keep Florida Beautiful tour on Monday. Scott is pointing toward his plan to send $500 million for alternative waters, $500 million for springs and his efforts for the Everglades. The governor is also calling for the state Department of Environmental Protection to increase fines on polluters.

Blaise Ingoglia, Republican Party of Florida vice chairman and hopeful candidate, has received the endorsement of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, adding to his already long list of support in his quest to take over theHouse District 35 seat, which covers most of Hernando County. Ingoglia was one of several general election candidates to be endorsed by the Chamber, with nearly all candidates being Republicans.

Rasmussen Reports released a poll on Friday which finds Gov. Rick Scott edging leading Democratic rival former Gov. Charlie Crist by a whisker. The poll of likely voters shows Scott taking 42 percent, Crist garnering 41 percent, 8 percent backing other candidates and 9 percent still undecided. A Rasmussen Poll from April had Crist leading 45 percent to 39 percent for Scott. The poll of 900 likely Florida voters was taken on July 29-July 30 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.