Gov. Rick Scott cheered the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development passing his bill slashing auto registration fees in Florida. The bill is being sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Joe Negron, R-Palm City. While his bill does not go as far as Scott has proposed, Negron has left the door open to cutting more of the fees.

In its latest in a series of attacks on former Gov. Charlie Crist, Lenny Curry, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), slammed the newly minted Democrat for hurting the middle class. Crist, who spent most of his political career as a Republican, is the frontrunner for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to challenge Gov. Rick Scott.

The Sunshine State is moving up in student achievement. According to the 2014 Quality Counts report issued Thursday by Education Week,Florida improved its national K-12 achievement ranking to seventhin the country, an increase from 12thlast year. Florida received a letter grade of "C" in K-12 achievement. The average state grade was"C-."

Gov. Rick Scott made a stop in Tampa Wednesday evening to tout his plan to roll back auto registration fees. The plan that would amount to $401 million in annual savings wouldundo a 54 percent increase in automobile registration fees signed into law in 2009 by former Gov. Charlie Crist.

The Senate Committee on Health Policy, chaired by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, passed a committee substitute for SB 248 Wednesday, Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs), sponsored by the Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs. Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, chaired the committee.

U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., continues to take aim at the federal budget agreement crafted by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., which passed both chambers of Congress last month. On Monday, DeSantis slammed the deal for hurting military retirees.

Florida might be seeing more of New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, 61, who has a Sunshine State girlfriend rumored to put a new kick in his step and make his ticker flicker quicker.

Sachs Media Group announced Wednesday that Herbie Thiele has been promoted to deputy director of public affairs at the public affairs promotions company. According to the Sachs Media written statment, Thieles promotion, which occurs as preparations for the 2014 Florida legislative session ramp up, enhances the firms acclaimed public affairs division.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi had high praise for a Tuesday ruling fromU.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle that supported the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) motion to modify the consent decree regarding numeric nutrient criteria for Floridas waters.

On Wednesday, U.S. News and World Report released itsrankings of the best online colleges and universities in the nation for bachelor's programs, and schools from the Sunshine State did well.

With less than a week to go until the Republican primary, former Marines Gen. Mark Bircher launched a new radio ad for his congressional bid. The ad plays up Birchers conservatism and insists he will oppose Preisdent Barack Obamas policies.

Florida State and University of Central Florida football players can't say their state government doesn't appreciate the nail-biting bowl games they gave us. Florida is saying "congratulations" and "thanks" by giving their fans half off the price of admission to all state parks in January.

Former U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., took aim at Democrats on Tuesday as he bashed them for supporting President Barack Obama. Despite his loss in 2012 to Democrat Patrick Murphy, West, a favorite of the tea party movement, has left the door open to a political comeback in 2016. We need to elect principled leaders to replace the mediocre bureaucrats who are nothing more than rubber stamps for Barack Obama's reckless radical agenda, West insisted on Tuesday. This needs be our No. 1 priority in the new year, because it's the only way to make America great again.

Rep. Steve Precourt, R-Orlando, has been named executive director of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA). Currently the chairman of the State Affiars Committee, Precourt seved as House majority leader last year. Precourt, who represents parts of Orange County, was facing term limits in 2014. Congrats to my friend StevePrecourt on his appointmentt as OOCEA chair (sic.), House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, posted on Twiter on Tuesday morning. He has been a great leader in the House.

The Festivus pole that graced the floor of the Florida Capitol rotunda this past holiday season is up for grabs on eBay. The 6-foot tall pole crafted by Chaz Stevens had a bid of $100 as of Tuesday morning. Stevens agreed to pay shipping, and all proceeds from the sale will go to South Florida's Women in Distress, afull-service domestic violence center serving Broward County.