Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is putting his final chips on South Carolina. The Republican presidential hopeful will be focusing on campaigning in Columbia on Thursday as he looks to derail former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts in the Palmetto State. Gingrich will be joined by former U.S. Rep. J. C. Watts of Oklahoma at a rally in Columbia on Thursday. In the meantime the Gingrich camp is not backing off on stressing how important the Palmetto State is for them.

The fee to be included on the states Do Not Call list may be transferred to those who call those on the list. The House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee supported HB 749, sponsored by Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa, which includes a provision that would end the required $10 initial fee and $5 annual renewal to have residential phones on the Florida Do Not Call list that is operated out of the Division of Consumer Services.

Though Gov. Rick Scott was widely applauded for his State-of-the-State pledge to increase public-school funding by $1 billion, one free-market think tank sounded a cautionary note. While greater education spending may or may not be warranted, it is a mistake for Floridians to perceive that our states commitment to education can be measured primarily by the size of the education budget," said Robert McClure, president of the Tallahassee-based James Madison Institute.

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Wednesday blamed a "lack of civility" on the tea party movement. Speaking to a "Politics and Eggs" breakfast in Washington, D.C., Wasserman Schultz, D-Fort Lauderdale, said: "We need to make sure that we tone things down, particularly in light of the Tucson tragedy from a year ago, where my very good friend, Gabby Giffords -- who is doing really well, by the way, -- [was shot].

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America applauded the House Banking and Insurance Subcommittee for supporting a bill that would limit personal injury protection auto coverage to only emergency care and services undertaken within three days of a crash.

Secretary of State Kurt Brownings second resignation was accepted Wednesday by Gov. Rick Scott. After a great deal of thought over the holiday, I have decided that it is in the best interest of my family that I would return to Pasco County, Browning stated in his resignation letter. Browning said there was no pressure from the governor's office.

Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner issued a statement on Wednesday aftera poll from Quinnipiac University found him taking 2 percent in the Republican primary to challenge Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson -- putting him in fourth place, far behind U.S. Rep. Connie Mack who leads with 39 percent.

The House Ethics Committee has voted not to conduct a full-scale investigation into allegations that Rep. Alcee Hastings sexually harassed a former aide and retaliated against her when she complained about his actions, but a federal civil lawsuit over the case is still pending. According to Politico.com, Jo Bonner, R-Ala., and Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., the chairman and ranking member of the Ethics Committee, issued a statement Wednesday, saying they will continue to review the Hastings case, although there will be no formal probe of the Florida Democrat at this time.

With a poll from Quinnipiac University released on Wednesday finding him trailing U.S. Rep. Connie Mack in the race for the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux came out swinging at his primary rival. Weighing in on the national debt, LeMieux took a shot at Mack on Wednesday.

The Senate Rules Subcommittee on Ethics and Elections supported the following 46 executive appointments on Wednesday: Board of Accountancy: Vogel, Harold S. (Key Biscayne). Board of Acupuncture: Teisinger, Mary Katherine (Lake Alfred). Board of Architecture and Interior Design: Fishburne, Kenan Ann (Quincy). Board of Chiropractic Medicine: Fogarty, Kevin G., D.C. (Merritt Island); Jones, Roderick C., D.C. (Redington Shores).

Trying to get back in the race after ignoring the New Hampshire primary, Texas Gov. Rick Perry unveiled a new ad on Wednesday hitting the airwaves in South Carolina which holds it primary on Jan. 21. Perry plays up his service in the U.S. Air Force in the ad which features veterans praising the Lone Star State governor.

A group of Occupiers wasn't allowed to enter the Senate gallery for the afternoon session as the 2012 legislative session got under way Tuesday. Members of Occupy Tallahassee and the Awake the State effort said they were told they were considered disruptive in trying to get into the House gallery for Gov. Rick Scotts State of the State address, which was limited to invitation-only seating.

While he is battling Newt Gingrich for fourth place in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday night, Rick Santorum told his supporters that he will stay in the race and is off to South Carolina. Following his strong showing in Iowa, where he lost to Mitt Romney by eight votes, Santorum insisted that he was satisfied with his performance though he knew New Hampshire would be a little tougher. Santorum stands with 10 percent with 65 percent of the votes counted.

Despite finishing behind Mitt Romney and Ron Paul in the New Hampshire primary with 17 percent of the vote, Jon Huntsman attempted to claim a victory on Tuesday night. Having focused heavily on New Hampshire, even noting that nobody else even came close" to the 170 events he held in the Granite State, Huntsman attempted to claim momentum. I think were in the hunt, Huntsman maintained. I say third place is a ticket to ride.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, expects the highly controversial destination gaming bill to reach the Senate floor for a full up or down vote. Some of my friends within the'leadership team' are for it, some are against it, Ive kind of let it be, Haridopolos told reporters Tuesday afternoon. What Im not going to allow happen is to simply not have a vote take place. People should, if they believe in their idea. Lets put it up for a vote.