Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, will address the Florida Association of Property Appraisers on Tuesday as part of the groups pre-legislative conference in Tallahassee. The talk is set for 9 a.m. in the Senate chambers of the state Capitol.

Jim Greer's attorney, Damon Chase, tells Sunshine State News his client is dropping his lawsuit against the Republican Party of Florida, Sen. John Thrasher, and former Sen. Mike Haridopolos, as part of his plea deal with the state. Greer had sued for $124,000 in what he says was promised severance pay, along with $5 million in punitive damages. More to come ...

Jim Greer has pleaded guilty this morning to four counts of grand theft, in a plea bargain with prosecutors that could see him spending up to 43 months in prison. "Sometimes clearing your name is not as important as taking care of your family," Damon Chase, Greer's attorney, said in explanation. Jury selection was scheduled to begin today, in a trial thatthreatenedto expose some of the inner workings of the Republican Party of Florida, and possiblyembarrass the GOP leadership.

In the realm of bills filed more to make a statement, Sen. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, has filed a bill that proposes Florida set its clocks to daylight saving time year round. Senate Bill 734, the Sunshine Protection Act," would first require the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to study adjustments in standard agricultural practices due to the year-round observance of daylight saving time.

Gov. Rick Scott intends to highlight environmental and higher educational proposals in his 2013 fiscal plan during stops in West Palm Beach and Gainesville on Monday, according to releases from the governor's office. First up will be education, with Scott outlining his educational funding proposals at the University of Floridas Nanoscale Research Facility at 9 a.m.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Dr. Peter A. Wish, the president of the Gulf Coast Healthstyle Corp., to the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority. Wish, 67, of Sarasota, succeeds Robert Waechter. The term is through Nov. 17, 2016.

In the where are they now files, former Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ken Tucker is now serving as law enforcement coordination specialist for U.S. Attorney Pamela Marsh. Tucker, who stepped downnear the end of 2012 from his post at the DOC, is managing the Northern District of Florida's LEC program where he is reportedly developing programs to link with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Gov. Rick Scott has reappointed Cesar Alvarez, the chief executive officer at the global law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP, to the Florida International University board of trustees. The term for Alvarez, 65, of South Miami, is to run through Jan. 8, 2018. The appointment requires Senate confirmation.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Ronnie Duncan, a former Southwest Florida Water Management District board member, to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. Duncan, 55, of Tarpon Springs, served as Pinellas County commissioner from 2004 to 2008 and was a member of the water management district from 1999 to 2005. His term is through Sept. 20, 2015.

OK, lets start off by saying Mens Health in their list on top American cities to date really doesnt give one much to go on criteria wise, and their assessment of what makes the top city No. 1 is rather confusing. But I cant resist most lists when it comes to the Sunshine State.

The economic impact of expanding Medicaid as required under the federal health-care act will be before the Senate Select Committee on the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Monday. With legislative leadership remaining unconvinced that the mandated program will reduce costs for Floridians, the committee is scheduled to hear presentations on: -- Floridas option to expand Medicaid eligibility from Joan Alker of the Georgetown Center for Children and Families and from Greg Mellowe of the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced that her office has arrested a West Palm Beach dentist -- Dr. Thomas Floyd, 61 --on charges of Medicaid fraud, grand theft, and employing a person to perform duties outside the scope of their license. Employing a person to perform duties outside the scope of their license and billing Medicaid for those services is endangering patients and stealing from the Medicaid program, Bondi said in a press release.

After congratulating Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford for championing campaign finance reform during the upcoming legislative session, Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, announced Friday that he is closing hiscommittee of continuous existence and donating its remaining funds to charity.

Gov. Rick Scott has reappointed John R. Padget to the State Board of Education while making first-time appointments in Dr. Ada G. Armas and John A. Colon.Padget, 75, of Key West, is a private investor. Armas, 53, of Coral Gables, is a physician with MCCI Medical Group. Armas succeeds Roberto Martinez. Colon, 61, of University Park, is a senior vice president and investment officer with Wells Fargo Advisers. Colon, currently the vice chairman of the Sarasota Housing Committee, succeeds Akshay M. Desai.

Writing on behalf of the 270 bishops who govern the Catholic Church in the United States, including the seven who head Florida's dioceses, Archbishop Timothy M.