As Democrats prepare for their state convention in Central Florida this weekend, former Gov. Charlie Crist appears ready to run for his old job. After spending most of his political career selling himself as a conservative Republican, after being overtaken by Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate primary in 2010, Crist left the GOP to run with no party affiliation. After endorsing President Barack Obama for a second term, Crist joined the Democrats at the end of 2012.

With bipartisan support and hard work from the Florida congressional delegation, the U.S. House passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRDA) in a 417-3 vote. The Florida delegation and Rules Committee members, Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden, and Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fort Lauderdale, led the discussion for the House on this necessary bill -- HR 3080.

On Thursday, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) approved the prudence of Florida Power & Light Co.s (FPL) contracts for a planned 600-mile pipeline system to bring more natural gas into the state. The $3.5 billion project will join Floridas two existing pipelines, the larger one owned by Florida Gas Transmission Co. LLC, and the other owned by Gulfstream Natural Gas System LLC.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a response with the state Supreme Court against a proposed constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana in the Sunshine State.Trial attorney John Morgan has been leading the charge for the proposed amendment. If Morgans petitions make the ballot, 60 percent of voters will have to approve the amendment for it to be law.

National pundit Larry Sabato peered through his Crystal Ball and offered his analysis on two congressional races in Florida. Sabato made the open contest for the seat which had been held by the late U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., a tossup while moving U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphys, D-Fla., bid for a second term from tossup to leans Democratic. Sabato noted former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner appears less likely to enter the GOP primary against Murphy:

Is this the end of the road for Tim Tebow? While there was speculation the former Gator legend could end up back in the National Football League (NFL) with the St. Louis Rams, it looks like that team went a different route. With starting QB Sam Bradford down, the Rams are desperate for quarterbacks since veteran backup Kellen Clemens hasnt exactly set the world on fire during his eight years in the NFL.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is ramping up his opposition to President Barack Obamas nomination of Janet Yellen to chair the Federal Reserve. Paul is teaming up with the Campaign for Liberty, chaired by his father former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, to stand in opposition to Yellen and push legislation taking aim at the Fed. On Thursday, the Campaign for Liberty announced a video on the subject featuring Sen. Paul and John Tate, the president of the group.

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the chairwoman of the Middle East and North Africa House Subcommittee, reached out across the aisle to work with U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., to demand historical items currently on display at the National Archives be returned to the Jewish community in Iraq. These items had been found by American and allied forces in Iraq and sent to the United States for repair and preservation. Ros-Lehtinen and Israel sent a letter to U.S.

With Democrats heading to Orlando for the state partys convention, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) launched a new website -- www.FloridaDems.com -- on Thursday bashing the Florida Democratic Party and its leaders

The government shutdown may be over, but more than half of likely U.S. voters expect another one because they believe Congress won't be able to reach a long-term budget deal that cuts federal spending. Just 15 percent of likely U.S. voters favor a federal budget that increases spending, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll. Fifty-four percent prefer a budget that cuts spending instead, while 25 percent say they want a budget deal that keeps spending levels the same.

Responding to U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., comparing the tea party to the Klu Klux Klan, conservative group FreedomWorks is gathering petitions demanding the congressman apologize. Florida Democrat and arch-progressive Alan Grayson compared the tea party to the Klu Klux Klan, FreedomWorks wrote in their call for signatures. He even used a picture of a burning cross as the T in tea party in an email fundraiser. This is outrageous. He must apologize!

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., ripped President Barack Obamas federal health-care law after Florida Blue ended health insurance for more than 300,000 Floridians who were dropped from their rolls due to the new law.

With a joint committee led by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., being launched to iron out $90 billion in budget differences between the Democratic Senate and the Republican House, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., continues to insist their meetings should be open to the public. On Wednesday, Buchanan sent a letter to Murray and Ryan making his case:

On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott announced that Nanotherapeutics Inc. will expand its operations in Alachua, creating 150 new jobs and bringing in $122 million in new investments.

While most continue to put more border control first in any immigration reform plan, fewer voters than ever trust the federal government to actually control the border if a new plan is passed, according to a new Rasmussen Reports poll.