Former U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., announced on Tuesday that he was backing businessman Curt Clawson in the special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., in Congress. Mack held the seat until 2012 when he ran for the U.S. Senate but was defeated by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. Radel won the seat but resigned earlier this year after pleading guilty to cocaine possession.

After giving the State of the State address on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott won the praise of an old political ally: Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas. Scott and Perry have often engaged in friendly competition to see whether Texas or Florida could generate more new jobs.

In Tuesdays State of the State address, Gov. Rick Scott spent a great deal of focus attacking former Gov. Charlie Crists record in Tallhasssee. Despite spending most of his political career with the GOP, Crist is the favorite for the Democratic nomination to challenge Scott in November. Crist returned fire on Tuesday afternoon.

The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) board of directors announced on Monday it would be backing the Republican ticket -- Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, CFO Jeff Atwater and Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam -- for re-election.

House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, opened the 2014 legislative session by calling for the children of undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition at Floridas colleges and universities. The federal government has failed, Weatherford said on Tuesday. Our border is not secure. Our laws are not enforced. Weatherford trashed the inconsistent and confusing federal policies.

The Florida House welcomed two new members on Tuesday as the 2014 legislative session opened. Rep. Amanda Murphy, D-New Port Richey, gave a playful thanks to Gov. Rick Scott for appointing Mike Fasano to serve as Pasco County tax collector, allowing her the chance to win his open House seat.

The conservative Concerned Women Political Action Committee (CWPAC) announced on Monday it was lining up behind Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, in the Repubican primary to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel in Congress. Benacquisto will take on former state Rep. Paige Kreegel and businessman Curt Clawson in the April 22 primary.

There will be no resort casino included in the gambling bill proposed by the Florida House. The 411-page proposal, HB 1383, released late Monday by the House Select Committee on Gaming, includes almost everything but. Rob Schenck, chairman of the committee, released a statement:

With the 2014 legislative session kicking off on Tuesday, Lenny Curry, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), said on Monday there were major differences between the Republicans and Democrats in Tallahassee.

With the 2014 legislative session starting on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott will double down on cutting taxes and not raising tuition in Florida colleges and universities. Scott is scheduled to give the State of the State address on Tuesday morning. The governors team unveiled parts of the speech on Monday which highlight Scotts call to reduce taxes and fees. Scotts proposal includes rolling back $400 million in state vehicle registration fees and cutting business rental taxes by $100 million.

Bill Young II announced on Monday he would run for the Republican nomination to challenge Florida Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg. Young contemplated running for the congressional seat left vacant by the death of his father, longtime U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., but decided against running in the special election.

Florida became a state on March 3, 1845. Its an interesting story and its bewildering to realize two grandsons of the president who presided over the event are still alive. Besides being the day Florida entered the Union, March 3, 1845, was the last full day that John Tyler served as president. That was exactly 169 years ago, but despite all that time passing, two of Tylers grandchildren are still alive.

Appearing on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, weighed in on the increased tensions between Russia and the Ukraine. Rubio hammered the Putin regime as a government of liars. On Saturday, Politico published a piece from Rubio in which the Florida Republican lays out options on how President Barack Obama can respond to Russias actions in the Crimea.

Monday marked the Sunshine State's 169th birthday -- Florida was admitted to the Union on this day in 1845.

Many Americans believe they pay more than their fair share of taxes, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll. The poll found 50 percent of American adults believe someone who makes twice as much money as they do pays less than twice as much in taxes. Only 15 percent think the higher-earning taxpayer pays twice as much in taxes, while 14 percent believe more than twice as much tax is paid.