The Florida Medical Association, silent rather than actively supportive of dispensing physicians in the workers' comp fight last year, may be poised to take a more proactive role in the issue during the 2013 legislative session. A new report from the state Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) points to continued interference by insurance carriers into the doctor-patient relationship.

The Boston Red Sox will open the 2013 Grapefruit League season with a pair of games against college teams -- Northwestern and Boston College -- on Feb. 21 in Fort Myers. The next day, the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves will meet in Lake Buena Vista for the first actual head-to-head contest between Major League squads -- at least for the first three or four innings -- this spring.

A group of election supervisors, including a few of the most troubled -- St. Lucie, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach -- in the 2012 contest, will appear before the state Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Monday. The committee, chaired by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, is expected to make its own recommendations on election reform, separate from a study underway by Secretary of State Ken Detzner at the direction of Gov. Rick Scott.

While mistakes in the 2012 election were found by the state to have come in part from staff inexperience and inadequate procedures, St. Lucie County Elections Supervisor Gertrude Walker is seeking $300,000 from the county for unexpected costs from the contest, according to TCPalm.com

Florida's government is not doing enough to prevent tooth decay, thereby driving up health care costs for families and taxpayers. This according to a new report by the Pew Center on the States reveals that the Sunshine State joined 17 others in earning a D grade when it comes to providing children with dental sealants, clear plastic coatings applied to the surfaces of molars that are considered helpful in preventing tooth decay.

The Foundation of Associated Industries of Florida announced that its health care summit later -- that will feature a legislator heading the states look into responding to the federal health care law -- is sold out. More than 300 have signed up for the Thursday and Friday event at the Orlandos World Center Marriott

With an increased focus on D.C. politics, Associated Industries of Florida has released its state and federal lobbying team for 2013 that will be led by Brewster Bevis, who has recently been named AIFs senior vice president of state and federal affairs. What happens on Capitol Hill has an immeasurable impact on Florida employers, stated AIF President Tom Feeney.

The Tallahassee Democrat reports thatSen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, one of the architects of the controversial 2011 electoral reform law that greatly reduced Florida's early voting period, has submitted a new piece of legislation reversing course, at least partially. The proposed legislation would expand the maximum possible number of early voting hours each day from 12 to 14, and would allow early voting to take place the Sunday before Election Day.

Florida Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, has been appointed to the Florida Defense Support Task Force by House Speaker Will Weatherford. For the last six years I have been privileged to serve a district that is home to two of Floridas major military installations, Tyndall Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity Panama City. Growing up in the area and representing this district in the Florida Legislature has shown me firsthand how important the military is to the people and the economy of our state, Patronis stated in a release.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, has named two new members for his Washington, D.C., staff: Deputy Chief of Staff Alberto Martinez and Deputy Press Secretary Brooke Sammon. Martinez, a Miami native who was Rubios communications director during his 2006-2008 term as Florida House speaker, has been an adviser for Rubios Reclaim America PAC and the Romney for President campaign. Martinezs resume also includes stints as deputy speechwriter for Gov. Jeb Bush and as the Florida communications director for President George W. Bushs 2004 re-election campaign.

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered state and U.S. flags lowered to half-staff outside the Pinellas County Courthouse, St. Petersburg City Hall and the state Capitol for former Florida Supreme Court Justice Ben F. Overton on Wednesday. A memorial service is being held at 2 p.m. today in the justice's courtroom.

The Daily Caller reports that 10 states -- including Florida -- have increased or will be increasing their minimum wages this year, and reminds readers of the potentially disastrous economic ramifications of it.

Since re-election, Bill Nelson has been doing what Bill Nelson does best: file pointless bills and keep quiet about them, hoping no one will notice. In December, in the waning days of the 112th Congress, Florida's senior senator introduced as new legislation S 3712, a bill to authorize the minting of a coin in honor of the Centennial of Boys Town. He said he hoped the bill would be considered last Friday. Last Friday? Why? It's all over for the 112th Congress.

Republican Party of Florida Secretary Kathleen King, from Manatee County, retained her seat on Saturday, taking the majority of the vote over Stafford Jones, the head of the Alachua County Republican Party. There are 200 state party leaders voting at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando.

Blaise Ingoglia was re-elected as vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida without opposition by party leaders Saturday at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando. He was re-elected without opposition.