U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ken., announced on Wednesday that he has issued a warning to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that he could place a hold on Janet Yellens nomination to be chairwoman of the Federal Reserve.

Americans still remain pessimistic about the economy's recovery over the next year, but have slightly higher hopes for the economy five years from now. A new Rasmussen Reports poll found 33 percent of American adults believe the U.S. economy will be stronger in a year, but 41 percent believe it will be weaker a year from now. Only 19 percent expect the economy to be the same.

Only hours after she said she would leave Hillsborough County and move to Pinellas County to run for the open congressional seat formerly held by the late U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., former Florida CFO Alex Sink continues to draw fire from Republicans. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) launched a website on Wednesday attacking Sink, hitting her record as state CFO.

A poll of likely voters released on Wednesday finds Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has closed the gap against former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe in next weeks Virginia gubernatorial election. Quinnipiac University finds McAuliffe in the lead with 45 percent with Cuccinelli right behind him with 41 percent. Libertarian Robert Sarvis continues to poll strong, taking 9 percent. Polls released last week showed McAuliffe starting to pull away from the Republican.

State Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, is co-sponsoring Sen. Jeremy Rings, D-Margate, bill reforming local government pensions. There are four hundred, ninety two police and fire pension plans in the state of Florida. Sixty-one percent of these plans are underfunded, Bradley said on Wednesday. When you combine the poor funding ratios with an increasing population of retirees, you have a ticking time bomb on your hands.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is encouraging Floridians to share their frustrations with President Barack Obamas federal health care law at his official website.

Former state CFO Alex Sink told the Tampa Bay Times that she plans to run for the congressional seat formerly held by the late U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla.--and she is already drawing Republican fire.

Volusia County fern grower John Hoblick has been re-elected to a two-year term as president of the Florida Farm Bureau. Voting delegates selected Hoblick unanimously at the organizations annual meeting last week in Ponte Vedra Beach.

More evidence of a loosey-goosey environment at taxpayers' expense. The Bureau of Labor Statistics -- yes, a federal agency -- has just produced data showing a government worker is 38 percent more likely to be absent from work for personal reasons or illnesses than a private-sector worker.

Norm Singleton, the vice president of policy for the Campaign for Liberty, sounded the alarm on Tuesday afternoon. Paul is the chairman of the Campaign for Liberty. I'm furious, Singleton wrote supporters. Yesterday at a meeting on Capitol Hill, a Senate staffer informed me that powerful Wall Street lobbyists were generating calls opposing Senator Rand Paul's plan to use Janet Yellen's nomination to be the new Fed chair to push for a vote on Audit the Fed.

Economist and business owner Farid Khavari is making a second gubernatorial bid, this time as a Democrat.

The senior Obama official closest to the administration's glitchy health-care website apologized Tuesday for problems that have caused issues for Americans trying to sign up for health care.

Florida's District 27 Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has become the second Republican co-sponsor of HR 15, the bipartisan immigration reform bill proponents hope will win over Speak John Boehner in the House. And PICO Florida came forward Tuesday to thank her publicly for it.

The Florida Highway Patrol announced on Tuesday they will be ramping up operations against drunk drivers just in time for Halloween -- not to mention the Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville and the showdown of two undefeated teams -- Miami and Florida State -- in Tallahassee which could have national title implications. The Florida Highway Patrol will be taking part in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 as they look to crack down against impaired drivers.

Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart took to the Florida Department of Education's blog on Tuesday to talk about the importance of principals in schools. Stewart boasted about principals at schools in Florida, calling them the best in the nation.