Florida is not exactly Ron Paul country. The maverick Texas congressman garnered less than 3.5 percent when he ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. He should do better in 2012 based on early polls, though his campaign is signaling they dont intend to put up much of a fight in the Sunshine State which holds it primary on Jan. 31 -- after New Hampshire votes on Tuesday and after South Carolina has its say on Jan. 21.

A poll released on Monday by Quinnipiac University found former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts with a solid lead in Florida over the rest of the pack running for the Republican presidential nomination.

Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich, D-Weston, has appointed Sen. Oscar Braynon, D-Miami, as the caucus whip for reapportionment. Im very excited to have Senator Braynon as our new reapportionment whip as the legislative process proceeds and Democrats take a critical eye to the new district boundaries proposed by the Republican leadership, Rich stated in a release. He brings energy and insight and will be a great asset to maintaining the integrity of Amendments 5 and 6 overwhelmingly passed by the voters in Florida.

Legislation has been introduced to create a "Patient's Compensation System" to handle medical malpractice claims in Florida. Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, and Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, are sponsoring Senate Bill 1588 and House Bill 1233 to replace current malpractice litigation with a process that supporters estimate will eliminate up to $40 billion per year of "medically unnecessary medical costs."

The Christian Family Coalition says it will support two bills to allow school prayer and restrict abortion. "Currently, children of faith in Florida are not allowed to express their beliefs in school during noncompulsory events," said CFC Chairman Anthony Verdugo. "At a time where all forms of public expression are tolerated and even celebrated, religious speech should be no exception."

Republican presidential hopeful former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts announced on Sunday that his campaign won the support of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi will serve as chairwoman of Romneys State Law Enforcement Relations Policy Committee.

Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, who is forgoing a run for a fourth term to seek the sheriffs position in Martin County, says hes topped $166,000 in his current campaign. We have raised more money than any sheriffs race in Martin County history, Snyder posted on his campaign website. The $166,000 would top the money Snyder needed to win his seat in 2006 -- $144,197 -- and be re-elected in 2008 -- $165,761. Snyder was unopposed in 2010.

Florida legislators may give themselves a little more time to deal with expected challenges to the once-a-decade redrawing of the congressional and legislative maps. A bill has been proposed, SPB 7042, to shorten by a week the required 12-week window between the primary and the general election. By moving this years primary date from Aug. 14 to Aug. 21, the qualifying period for congressional and legislative seats could also be moved from the week of June 4 to the week of June 11.

An effort to require E-Verify in Florida will return for another go in the state Legislature. Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, and Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, are once again asking fellow state legislators to require Florida businesses to use a federal system that checks the legal status of new hires.

In a Suffolk University/7News poll released on Sunday morning, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas closed the gap but is still trailing former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary.

Conservative activist Gary Bauer endorsed former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania for the Republican presidential nomination on Sunday. Bauer, now with the Campaign for Working Families and Our American Values, is best known for leading the Family Research Council and running for the Republican presidential nomination back in 2000.

State Rep. Daphne Campbell, D-Miami, wants to authorize Florida's nurse practitioners to initiate involuntary psychiatric examinations under the state's Baker Act. Though many counseling professionals and physician assistants can involuntarily commit patients who are suicidal or homicidal, advanced registered nurse practitioners have no such authority in Florida, Campbell said.

Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein said his Fort Lauderdale law firm maintained a condo across the street where he and his law partners would have sex with prostitutes and then come back to work, according to transcripts published by the Sun-Sentinel. The imprisoned Rothstein said his firm spent tens of thousands of dollars per month on escorts, offering the women's services to friends, investors and business associates, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

In a letter to President Barack Obama about another impending increase in the nation's debt ceiling, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., warned on Friday that the administration's policies are turning the United States into a "deadbeat nation." Rubio reiterated his call for an economic plan featuring "both pro-growth elements and spending restraints, including fundamental tax reform, regulatory reform, meaningful cuts to discretionary spending, a balanced-budget amendment, and reforms to save Social Security and Medicare.

U.S. Rep. Richard Nugent, R-Spring Hills, sharply criticized President Barack Obamas proposal to downsize the military and reshape how the armed forces respond to crisis, including an increased dependence on coalitions with allies. I don't ever want to have to depend on the French to come to my rescue, Nugent stated in a release Friday. Nugents release: