Florida TaxWatch released a report on how the Sunshine State compared to other states when it comes to taxes and finds it ranks 33rd between local and state governments. "One specific tax ranking cannot tell the whole story," said Dominic Calabro, the president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch. "It is our hope that this more comprehensive report will help taxpayers and policymakers better understand how states fund their governments and demonstrate that low taxes in one area often means higher taxes in another area."

Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart has selected the American Institutes for Research (AIR) assessment test to replace the FCAT, according to documents released by the Florida Department of Education on Monday. The nonprofit beat out several large testing companies like Pearson and CTB-McGraw Hill for the contract.

With Floridas state unemployment rate dropping to 6.1 percent in January, the Republican Governors Association (RGA) sent out Gov. Brian Sandoval, R-Nev., to praise Gov. Rick Scotts record. "Rick Scott and I were elected in the midst of the Great Recession in 2010 when each of our states faced some of the most challenging economic times they have ever known, Sandoval said on Monday. Unprecedented unemployment, budget deficits and foreclosures were issues that both Floridians and Nevadans confronted with hard work, sacrifice and optimism.

Businessman Curt Clawson is taking aim at former state Rep. Paige Kreegel in the increasingly contentious Republican primary to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., in Congress.

While Gov. Rick Scott cheered the news that Floridas unemployment rate dropped to 6.1 percent for January, his Libertarian rival isnt buying it. Adrian Wyllie went on the attack on Monday, insisting the lower unemployment rate means nothing.

Despite Monday's announcement that Florida's unemployment rate was the lowest in January that it had been in nearly six years, Charlie Crist's campaign team pushed back on Gov. Rick Scott and his promise to create 1.7 million jobs in the Sunshine State.

Abby Dosoretz, the campaign manager for Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, turned up the heat on Republican primary rival Curt Clawson. They are running in the Republican primary to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., who resigned in January after pleading guilty of cocaine possession.

Former Florida Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich won support from the National Organization for Women (NOW) over the weekend as she continues her underdog challenge for the Democratic nomination to challenge Gov. Rick Scott in November. Despite spending most of his career as a Republican, former Gov. Charlie Crist is leading Rich in polls of the Democratic primary.

On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott announced Florida's unemployment rate dropped to 6.1 percent in January, the lowest it's been since June 2008. Florida's unemployment rate dropped 1.9 percent from January 2013 to January 2014, the largest drop of any state according to areportfrom the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

One of Gov. Rick Scotts chief legislative goals in 2014 is to roll back $400 million in vehicle registration fees. A poll from the University of North Florida (UNF) released on Monday finds solid support across the Sunshine State for Scotts proposal. The poll shows a clear majority -- 55 percent -- of those surveyed back Scotts proposal with more than a third -- 38 percent -- strongly supporting it and 17 percent somewhat supporting it. The proposal garners the opposition of 35 percent with 19 percent strongly opposing it and 16 percent saying they somewhat oppose it.

Florida continues to back its Stand Your Ground" law according to a poll from the University of North Florida (UNF) released on Monday. The poll finds more than 60 percent of those surveyed support Stand Your Ground with 41 percent saying they strongly support it and 21 percent somewhat support it. Less than a quarter--22 percent--strongly oppose the law while 7 percent somewhat oppose it. The poll of 507 registered voters in Florida was taken from March 6-March 16 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.35 percent.

A poll from the University of North Florida (UNF) released on Monday shows a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana that Floridians will vote on in November has an excellent chance of passing. The poll shows 74 percent of registered voters plan to support the amendment while 22 percent say they plan to vote against it. For a state constitutional amendment to pass, it needs 60 percent of voters.

A poll from the University of North Florida (UNF) released on Monday shows former Gov. Charlie Crist, the favorite for the Democratic nomination despite spending most of his political career as a Republican, beating Gov. Rick Scott by a hair. The poll of registered voters has Crist with 34 percent with Scott right behind him with 33 percent. But 34 percent of voters are on the fence with 17 percent saying they would back someone else besides Scott and Crist and 17 percent still undecided.

Gov. Rick Scott and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, now the president of the University of Miami, teamed up on Friday to showcase the governors proposal to send $80 million from the state budget for cancer research. Scott is calling for $60 million to ensure Florida Cancer Centers gain National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation and $20 million for grants.

With an additional $150 million added to the more than $1 billion Florida state government surplus , Florida TaxWatch released a report on the matter late on Friday and urged the Legislature to remain fiscally conservative.