Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Susan Katherine Frazier to the Florida Transportation Commission. According to a release from the governors office:

Gov. Rick Scott reappointed Neal A. Dupree as the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel for the South District Region and John W. Jennings as Capital Collateral Regional Counsel for the Middle District Region. According to a release from the governors office:

Tea Party Express, the nations largest tea party political action committee, gave a boost Monday to Rep. Michele Bachmann's presidential bid. While the Tea Party Express has not endorsed a presidential candidate at this time, Michele Bachmann garners strong tea party support because of her work and commitment to restoring fiscal responsibility to Washington, D.C.," said Tea Party Express Chairman Amy Kremer.

U.S. Senate candidate Craig Miller on Monday blasted a tax hike embedded in the two-month extension of the payroll tax cut. Miller said the little-noticed provision puts a new 2 percent tax on individuals making over $110,100 annually.The so-called Recapture Tax clause will automatically renew unless taken out of a future bill and equals earnings of $18,350 for the two-month period, Miller said in a statement.

Gov. Rick Scott reappointed Joe H. Pickens and Sen. Nancy Detert to the board of control for Southern Regional Education. According to a release from the governors office: Pickens, 53, of Satsuma, is the president of St. Johns River State College. He is reappointed for a term beginning Dec. 22, 2011, and ending June 30, 2015. Detert, 67, of Venice, is the state senator representing the 23rd District. She is reappointed for a term beginning Dec. 22, 2011, and ending June 30, 2014.

Days before a Florida Senate committee will again take up the destination casino issue, a lobbyist for Las Vegas Sands and the president of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association will be speakers at a South Florida forum on the bill. The Tower Forum, a nonpartisan business organization, plans to have Nick Iarossi, a lobbyist for Las Vegas Sands, and Carol Dover, president of the Tallahassee-based association that opposes the gaming bill, at its Jan. 5 breakfast forum in Fort Lauderdale.

Gov. Rick Scott named John J.P. Ottino, Frank Nappo, Charles J. Scriven, Justin Quiggle, Chucha Barber and Autumn Karlinsky to the Florida Commission on Community Service. According to a release from the governors office: Ottino, 56, of Fort Lauderdale, is the vice president of Daily Management Inc. He succeeds Yolanda F. Londono and is appointed for a term beginning Dec. 21, 2011, and ending Sept. 14, 2012.

Newt Gingrich, who failed to make the Virginia primary ballot, complained Saturday that the state's qualification process was a "failed system." Only Mitt Romney and Ron Paul qualified for the March 6 presidential primary. "Voters deserve the right to vote for any top contender, especially leading candidates," Gingrich campaign director Michael Krull said in a statement. "We will work with the Republican Party of Virginia to pursue an aggressive write-in campaign to make sure that all the voters of Virginia are able to vote for the candidate of their choice."

Florida will get a share of the $70 million in settlements that GE Funding Capital Market Services has agreed to pay as the result of a nationwide investigation into an illegal municipal bond derivatives scheme. A multistate settlement is worth $34.25 million to Florida and other states as part of an ongoing investigation of alleged illegal conduct in the municipal bond derivatives industry, Attorney General Pam Bondis office announced on Friday. Florida should see more than $1.3 million from the settlement, the attorney generals office estimated.

Gov. Rick Scott made three appointments to the criminal conflict and civil regional counsels for the regions of the 2nd, 4th and 5th District Courts of Appeal. According to a release from the governors office:

The Republican Party of Virginia ruled that Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry did not submit the required 10,000 signatures to qualify for that state's GOP presidential primary. Ron Paul and Mitt Romney will be on the ballot for the March 6 election. The announcement by the RPV Saturday morning was a particularly big blow to Gingrich, who had held a slim lead over Romney in the latest Quinnipiac poll in the state.

Gov. Rick Scott appointed Judge Nick Nazaretian of Tampa to the 13th Judicial Circuit Court. Judge Nazaretians service for the past nine years on the county court and during temporary duty on the circuit court has well-prepared him for elevation to the position of circuit court judge, Scott stated in a release. His extensive courtroom experience throughout his 25-year legal career, as well as his careful attention to the rule of law, will serve the 13th Judicial Circuit well. According to a release from the governors office:

Gov. Rick Scott appointed Judge Robert K. Groeb of Newberry to the 8th Judicial Circuit Court. Roberts experiences as a county judge and as an administrative hearing officer have prepared him to evaluate and consider evidence without bias and prejudice, Scott stated in a release. In addition, his 24 years as a trial attorney have given him the opportunity to develop the highest regard for the rule of law. According to a release from the governors office:

Gov. Rick Scott has reappointed Kelly Horton to the Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory Council and named four others to the board. According to a release from the governor's office: "Horton, 43, of Tallahassee, is the vice president of governmental affairs for Heffley and Associates. She is reappointed for a term beginning Dec. 22, 2011, and ending Aug. 20, 2015." The four new members are: "Ronald H. Brown, 47, of Miami ... art director for SYNQ Studios. He succeeds Alan Randolph and is appointed for a term beginning Dec. 22, 2011, and ending Aug. 19, 2013.

Publix marketing manager Douglas Ackerman has been elected by the Bartow-based Florida Citrus Commission as the new executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus. The committee voted 5-4 to approve Ackermans hiring and enter negotiations with him for a $190,000-250,000 salary range, according to The Packer, the citrus industry newspaper. Ackerman replaces Ken Keck, who resigned in August.