In a pattern of behavior thats moving from outrageous to simply pathetic, our president now wants to expand the tax credit for the increasingly discredited Chevy Volt (an environmental Holy Grail for green energy fantasists -- and equally fanciful) from $7,500 to $10,000. Unfortunately, Chevrolet has suspended production of the high-cost hybrid due to lack of consumer interest -- that translates as market failure.

County, municipal, school district and other local government officials could consult with counterparts about consolidating services during a fiscal emergency, under a bill, SB 368, approved by the House on Wednesday. The bill would also allow Gov. Rick Scott to suspend elected officials unable to resolve fiscal emergencies. The bill is headed to Scotts desk as the Senate unanimously votedat the start of the session.

While the Florida Education Association says it's standing up for "the children," its Tallahassee-based bureaucracy has been fattening up. Employee compensation at the FEA rose 7 percent from 2009 to 2010 (the latest year for which figures were available). A total of $13,251,879 was spread among 81 FEA employees (down one position from the year before). That averages out to $163,603 per union functionary -- more than four times the average salary of classroom teachers the FEA purports to represent.

A corporate tax credit scholarship would be available for private school vouchers under a bill approved by the House on Wednesday. The House bill, HB 859, which seemingly comes up annually, removes the requirement that a child spend at least one year in the public school system before being eligible for the scholarship. State staff has estimated the bill, heavily opposed by Democrats, could have a $10.3 million savings next year for the program that gives corporations a dollar-for-dollar tax credit.

All Florida governors will be allowed to name the majority of those who appoint judges upon taking office. But Gov. Rick Scott wouldnt be allowed to remove those appointed by former Gov. Charlie Crist until their current terms expire. In a close vote Wednesday, the Senate advanced SB 1570, which alters the terms of the five appointments by the governor to the nine-member Judicial Nominating Commission from staggered terms to at the pleasure of the governor."

After winning six out of 10 contests on Super Tuesday, Mitt Romneys team made the argument that only their candidate has a legitimate shot at winning the Republican presidential nomination -- and that his GOP opponents are only helping Democrat incumbent President Barack Obama.

House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, told reporters he doesn't expect the ruling by Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford on Tuesday to create a budget crisis as the session winds down.

Mitt Romney did not exactly have the most impressive of nights on Super Tuesday-- but Europes largest oddsmaker thinks he did enough to further solidify his claim to be the favorite for the Republican presidential nomination. Irish bookmaker Paddy Power moved Romney from a 1-8 favorite to win the nomination to 1-10. The odds that Rick Santorum will end up with the nomination dropped from 6-1 to 10-1. Ron Paul remains a 25-1 underdog and Newt Gingrich is a 33-1 longshot.

Gov. Rick Scott released the following statement on the death of Episcopal School of Jacksonville Headmaster Dale Regan on Tuesday: When I was given the news of the tragic death of Dale Regan today, I joined the entire Jacksonville community in being both shocked and saddened, Scott stated in a release. My thoughts and prayers are with the Regan family and all who were affected by this awful act. I join with the entire state of Florida this evening in mourning the loss of such a wonderful teacher and leader.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will be on the phones taking calls on the consumer hotline -- 1-800-HELP-FLA -- Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Commissioner Putnam will also interact with consumers through the departments new chat feature which allows consumers to connect directly to a customer service representative." Putnam will visit the Division of Consumer Services call center in Tallahassee as part of National Consumer Protection Week.

With 10 states up for grabs, Mitt Romney emerged a battered winner on Super Tuesday -- but he did not knock out his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination. Romney won five of the 10 states that held contests on Tuesday -- though results have not come in from the Alaska caucus. While he won Ohio, his chief battleground on Tuesday, Romney's wins also included two New England states which Republicans have little chance of winning in November and Virginia where his chief GOP rivals did not make the ballot.

Mark Wilson, the president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, released a statement late Tuesday criticizing Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulfords ruling Tuesday that a law requiring state employees to contribute 3 percent of their pay toward Florida's pension program is unconstitutional: Todays ruling is an affront to the taxpayers and voters of Florida, Wilson stated in the release, adding that it's the work of "an activist" judge.

Rick Santorum scoredhis third win of the night on Super Tuesday by winning the North Dakota caucus. With 52 percent of the votes counted, Santorum led with 40 percent followed by Ron Paul in second with 27 percent. Mitt Romney was running third with 25 percent while Newt Gingrich lagged behind with 8 percent. There are 28 delegates at stake in North Dakota.

Rick Santorum scored a big win on Super Tuesday as he carried Tennessee. Its a solid win for the former Pennsylvania senator since Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney had been surging in the polls in recent days. Santorum should pick up many of the 58 delegates that were on the line in the Volunteer State.

Since backing favorite son Calvin Coolidge over John W. Davis in 1924, Massachusetts has gone Republican only four times in presidential elections -- as Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan both carried the state twice.