From his perches on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the International Freedom Caucus and as co-chairman of the House Hellenic Caucus, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis issued a statement on Thursday after the House unanimously passed a measure urging Turkey to respect Christian sites and return confiscated church property.

Pointing to a report earlier in the year from the Federation for American Reform, Florida state Senate hopeful Ron Rushing, who has filed to run against Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, in the Republican primary, called for major immigration reform in the Sunshine State. The FAIR report found that 950,000 illegal aliens are costing taxpayers almost $5.5 billion.

How far has Texas Gov. Rick Perry fallen in the Republican presidential race? A Suffolk University/7NEWS (WHDH TV) poll of likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters released late on Wednesday found that Perry was running dead last in ninth place with 1 percent.

On Thursday, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney slammed former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, his chief rival for the Republican presidential nomination, issuing a statement attacking the former congressional leader on a number of fronts.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Craig Miller released a copy of a letter he sent to Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., today. It reads: The latest news about the bankruptcy of American Airlines reinforces what we all know: that is it past time that the U.S. Senate unites with the American people to stand up for American employee rights.

Sunshine State News will live-blog tonight's GOP presidential debate in Sioux City, Iowa. The 9 p.m. debate on Fox -- the last scheduled before Iowans caucus on Jan. 3 -- comes as Newt Gingrich's poll numbers are sliding. The latest survey by Rasmussen Reports finds the former House speaker back down to 20 percent of likely caucus-goers -- shedding 12 points from a month ago. Mitt Romney has retaken the lead, but still has only a 23 percent share, Rasmussen said.

Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman James Billie continued on Wednesday the tribes criticism of Attorney General Pam Bondi for linking the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa to money laundering in a media conference to oppose the gaming bill before the state Legislature. On Wednesday, Billie posted a column on the tribe's website saying Bondi's comment was "damaging to the reputation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida." Bondi's office did not immediately respond for comment Wednesday night.

BP has been approved to return to deepwater exploration in the Gulf of Mexico.

The governor's office has released a letter Gov. Rick Scott sent to school district superintendents across the state outlining the K-12 education portion of his proposed $66.4 billion budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year: "December 14, 2011

Mitt Romney edged Newt Gingrich in a straw poll of Palm Beach County Republicans on Wednesday night. Romney garnered 73 votes, 41 percent, beating Gingrich's 61 votes (34 percent). Trailing far behind were Ron Paul, 8 percent; Rick Perry, 6 percent; Rick Santorum, 5 percent; and Michele Bachmann, 4 percent. "Right now, it looks like a two-man race," said County Chairman Sid Dinerstein.

With less than three weeks to go until the Iowa caucus, Republican presidential hopeful U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann unveiled a major endorsement in the Hawkeye State on Wednesday when state Sen. Merlin Bartz, R-Grafton, announced he is backing her bid. Merlin Bartz has been a strong voice on the front lines to defend traditional marriage and family values, Bachmann said in a statement. He is a rock-solid conservative and Im proud to have him standing up for our cause when it matters most -- in these crucial weeks leading up to the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses.

The Obama administration's blockage of the Keystone XL Pipeline is killing jobs in Florida, U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland said in a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. "The Keystone decision has eliminated hundreds of jobs in my district," Southerland, R-Tallahassee, said, pointing to associated layoffs by a local pipe manufacturer and an engineering firm.

Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, now in a crowded Republican primary looking to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, said on Wednesday that Senate Democrats remain a major obstacle to passing a federal balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

Republican presidential hopeful U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas scoreda major endorsement in New Hampshire, which holds the first presidential primary on Jan. 10. On Wednesday, state Sen. Ray White, R-Bedford, announced that he is backing Paul. Unlike the other candidates, Ron Paul has been singing the same tune for years -- going back to his first term in Congress, said White in a statement. He has understood and tried to warn us for decades about the economic crisis we now face, and he is the only candidate who understands the gravity of the situation.

Republican presidential hopeful U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota offered a statement regarding Palestinian membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization -- and she took aim at President Barack Obama.