Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi will join a group opposed to the expansion of gambling for a media announcement at noon in the Capitol. The release from the attorney general's office states: Tallahassee, Fla.-- Attorney General Pam Bondi will join other opponents of the expansion of gambling in a press conference today. WHO: Attorney General Pam Bondi and other opponents of the expansion of gambling. WHAT: Press conference. WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 8, 12 p.m. WHERE: The Capitol, Cabinet room, lower level.

Gov. Rick Scotts proposed budget, which was unveiled in Tallahassee on Wednesday, drew the applause Thursday of Ed Moore, the president and CEO of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. Moore, who leads the group of 29 private higher-education institutions, praised Scott for continuing to support the Florida Resident Access Grants.

A poll released by Quinnipiac University on Thursday morning found former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich holds a solid lead over his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination in Florida.

Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, says, in retrospect, he should have just said no comment to a reporter. Haridopolos said during a sit-down with reporters that he should have simply answered a Miami Herald reporters videotaped question differently when asked a year ago if there was an agreement involving ousted GOP Party Chairman Jim Greer. If I had it done over again, I probably would have said no comment, Haridopolos said.

Gov. Rick Scott drew praise from environmentalists for his proposal to include $40 million for Florida Everglades restoration in the proposed 2012-13 budget released Wednesday. Audubon is encouraged to see Governor Scott make a commitment to Florida Forever and Everglades restoration in his 2012-2013 budget recommendation, Julie Wraithmell, director of wildlife conservation with Florida Audubon, stated in a release.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos says one way state universities can shave their budgets is to trade majors. Sit down like kids with baseball cards and swap professors in order to concentrate majors at the university where the program is already the strongest. Ill give you a British Studies for your Latin American program.

The Florida League of Cities has released its priorities for the 2012 legislative session. Municipal Police Officer and Firefighter Pension Plans and Disability Presumptions: The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that provides comprehensive municipal firefighter and police officer pension reform. Any comprehensive pension reform package should:

It may not rise to the level of its scoop on the John Edwards sex scandal, but the National Enquirer is shopping another salacious story: Newt Gingrich had sex with a campaign staffer. Proclaiming to be an "ex-mistress," Anne Manning told the Enquirer she performed a sex act on Gingrich in a Washington, D.C., hotel room while he was still married to his first wife in 1977.

A national poll from Farleigh Dickenson University released on Wednesday found that former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich continues to maintain a large lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Rick Perry of Texas continued to play up his personal faith and promised to fight for a large role for religion in the public square in a new ad his team unveiled on Wednesday.

John Avlon over at the Daily Beast offers a list of 10 politicians whose endorsements could shape the Republican presidential primary contest. With Florida looming large on the primary calendar on Jan. 31, its no surprise to see that former Gov. Jeb Bush and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio are on the list.

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott issued a statement commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor. The 70th anniversary of the attacks is Wednesday.

Gov. Rick Scott said Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll has done a very good job as she approaches the end of her first year in office. He said her primary focus has been military base issues, federal defense and veterans affairs. View video of his comments here from a press gathering in his office Tuesday.

With an expected focus on job creation and education, Gov. Rick Scott will release his proposed 2012-2013 budget from the Cabinet meeting room in the Capitol at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, his office announced in a release. The announcement will be carried live by the Florida Channel and webcast live at http://thefloridachannel.org/ on Web Channels 1 and 7.

On Tuesday, Gallup started running its daily tracking national polls in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich leads the pack with 37 percent followed by former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts in second with 22 percent.