On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott announced that the state unemployment rate dropped from 7.1. percent in July to 7 percent in August. This marks six months of Floridas unemployment rate being below the national average. Since Scott took over from former Gov. Charlie Crist, the unemployment rate in Florida has dropped from 11.1 percent to 7 percent and there have been 365,500 new jobs in the private sector. With Crist, who left the GOP to run for the U.S.

Former U.S. Rep. Allen West will be going to bat for fellow African-American Republican Louisiana state Sen. Elbert Guillory later this month. Heading out to Louisiana on Sept. 29, West will be attending fundraisers with Guillory in Lafayette and Baton Rouge that day. Guillory had been a registered Republican his entire life before jumping over to the Democrats to run for a heavily Democratic state House seat. Earlier this year, with much national media attention, Guillory switched back to the Republicans.

While Washington is focusing on a potential federal shutdown and attempts to repeal or defund President Barack Obamas health care law, U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla., pointed to his support of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which passed out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Webster insisted on Thursday the legislation would help the Sunshine State.

Florida will be releasing its unemployment numbers on Friday, which could bring good or bad news on the state's economic recovery. Although Florida's unemployment rate is still below the national average of 7.6 percent,the rate in the Sunshine State has stayed flat at 7.1 percent for the last three months. Just last week, payroll provider ADP reported that Florida added 13,790 private-sector jobs during the month of August. There were 665,000 people out of work in Florida last month.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and the chairman ofFoundation for Excellence in Educationaddressed the issue of Common Core State Standardson Wednesdayduring a press conference with Louisiana Gov.Bobby Jindal and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott. Bush spoke candidly in support of the education standards, which are set to be fully implemented in Florida's schools by the 2014-2015 school year.

A Gallup poll released Friday found that a majority of Americans believe mental illness is greatly to blame for gun violence more than any other factor, and overall support for tougher gun control laws is below 50 percent. The poll found 48 percent of those surveyed blamed mental illness -- the same number as a poll that was taken just after the 2011 mass shooting at then-Rep. Gabby Giffords' congressional event in Tucson, Ariz.

Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., spoke out against cuts to food stamps after legislation passed in the House of Representatives Wednesday that would cut $39 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over a decade.

Florida Realtors association is showing its support of Gov. Rick Scott's proposal to cut $500 million in taxes and fees from next year's state budget. Dean Asher, president of Florida Realtors, wrote the following to the governor on Thursday:

According to a new poll released Thursday, more than half of American adults believe stricter gun laws might have prevented the mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard. Only 33 percent of Americans say they believe it's at least somewhat likely that stricter gun control laws would have prevented the mass shooting in Washington, D.C. -- that number includes 15 percent who say it is very likely stricter gun laws would have prevented the tragedy.

Republicans sought to discredit the findings of a report of last year's assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and they were particularly critical of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's response to the attack. "The system failed the people in that compound in Benghazi," said Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. "Our investigation has shown that waivers and exceptions occur every day often defining a facility as different than what it actually is."

The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) announced on Thursday that Josh Archambault will be joining the group as a senior fellow Josh is a nationally renowned health and welfare specialist with a deep understanding of how to achieve smart, patient-centered public policies to keep people healthy, happy and on paths to better lives, FGA CEO Tarren Bragdon said on Thursday. Were excited to have him on board and look forward to featuring his original research and ideas for reform.

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott helped launch the Siemens Energy Wind Service Training Center. This $7 million center will host 2,400 trainees every year and has created 49 new jobs in Florida. Back in February, Scott announced the center would be opening in Orlando.

The Florida Realtors reported on Thursday that the housing market in the Sunshine State continued to improve in recent weeks. During the month of August, there were more closed and pending sales while median prices rose in Florida.

Two polls released on Wednesday had bad news for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubios, (R-Fla.) presidential hopes in 2016. Rasmussen Reports released a poll in which Vice President Joe Biden is a clear second choice for Democrats behind former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- but Biden still has a commanding lead over Rubio in a possible 2016 match-up.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush isn't quite on board with the efforts of some of his party to threaten to shut down the government to defund Obamacare, according to The Hill. "I'd just add a little dose of reality," said Bushat the National Press Club on Wednesday, following statements from Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.