Former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, whose son and namesake is currently running for the seat that he held for 12 years, is backing former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts for the Republican presidential nomination. The Romney camp unveiled the endorsement of the elder Mack on Thursday. The team behind Rep. Connie Mack, who endorsed Romney earlier in the year, announced that he would run for the seat his father held from 1989 until 2001.

Tarren Bragdon, president and CEO of the Foundation for Government Accountability, applauded Gov. Rick Scotts decision to appeal a federal judge's ruling that blocked Florida's drug testing of welfare recipients. Child advocates and welfare watchdogs are proud of Governor Scott today for fighting Judge Mary Scrivens dangerous decision enabling addict parents with more welfare cash.Our tax dollars should not be used to fund illegal drug addiction that traps children in unsafe homes.

A Caylees bill will move forward in the state Senate that is tied into the summers overly sensationalistic Casey Anthony murder trial in Orlando. Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, will author a bill by the Select Committee on Protecting Floridas Children that would make it a third-degree felony for any person who provides misleading information to law enforcement during a missing child investigation where the child is later found to have been injured.

With two months to go until the Iowa caucus, one of the leading candidates for the Republican presidential nomination -- U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas -- turns his eyes to the Hawkeye State this week. Paul, who placed a strong second in the Iowa Republican straw poll in Ames in August, will hit Iowa on Friday as he continues his second bid for the GOP nomination. The Texas congressman will be making media appearances and campaigning in Des Moines. He will speak at the Republican Party of Iowa Reagan Dinner on Friday night.

The Scott administration on Thursday appealed a court ruling that temporarily blocked Florida's drug-testing of welfare recipients. "I cannot fully express my disappointment in the federal district courts decision. This policy is intended to help Florida families and is an effective way to ensure that welfare dollars are used for the benefit of children and to help Floridians get back to work and off public assistance," Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement.

Rasmussen Reports released a poll on Thursday finding that President Barack Obama and Republican presidential hopeful former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts are in a dead head in a possible general election match-up. Obama receives 42 percent while Romney is right behind him with 41 percent. The survey of 1,000 likely voters was taken from Nov. 1-2 and has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

Florida state Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, announced on Thursday that he would run for the congressional seat that Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack will be leaving to run against Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

On Thursday, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, running in the crowded Republican primary field to take on Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, announced that he had garnered the endorsements of state Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, and two state representatives -- Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill, and Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland.

Three members of Florida's congressional delegation -- Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, Ander Crenshaw, R-Jacksonville, and Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta -- joined 97 other House members in signing a letter Wednesday to members of Congress' special debt reduction committee to consider all options to cut $4 trillion from the federal budget. "To succeed, all options for mandatory and discretionary spending and revenues must be on the table," stated the letter signed by 40 Republicans and 60 Democrats.

On Wednesday, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan ripped into the Federal Housing Finance Agencys decisions to give almost $13 million in bonuses to 10 executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. "As someone who has been in business for 30 years, I can tell you that you don't pay bonuses to people who have failed to do their job," said Buchanan. "In this instance their failure cost the taxpayers millions and led to a massive government bailout. They have failed us. They have failed the American people."

Senate President Mike Haridopolos tipped his hand and opened the floodgates for gaming lobbyists on Wednesday. Echoing Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, co-author of a "destination" casino bill, Senate President Mike Haridopolos said that if Florida adds casinos, "We're going to do it the right way." For those unfamiliar with political-speak, that translates into "C'mon on down!" In a sarcastic and revealing remark, the Merritt Island Republican said, "For those who haven't heard, we already have gaming."

They say the future happens first in California. If so, Florida teachers should brace for another hit. California Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, wants to raise the public employee retirement age for Golden State employees to 67. "Sixty-seven is kind of advanced," grumped California Teachers Association spokesman Frank Wells, commenting on the plan floated by the 73-year-old governor. Imagine the outcry here if Republican Gov. Rick Scott even considered such a proposal. But, in fact, Florida is edging that way.

State Reps. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, and Darren Soto, D-Orlando, want Sen. Alan Hays removed from the Senate Committee on Reapportionment. In a letter to Senate President Mike Haridopolos, Soto described Hays' comments about a Latino legislative district as "anti-Hispanic." "It seems to indicate that we are somehow unworthy of voting and of having representation," Soto wrote. Cruz wrote:

Sunshine State News is hitting the radio airwaves on Wednesday at 3 p.m. I will be on the Ed Dean radio show, which is hosted by one of the most feisty, informative and entertaining conservatives in Florida. It can be heard online here and on two stations in South Florida -- 89.3 on the west coast and 90.3 on the Atlantic coast.

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, who last week joined a crowded Republican primary field to replace Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, has become the 30th congressman to demand the resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder over the "Operation Fast and Furious" gun program that allowed weapons purchased in the United States to end up in the hands of violent Mexican drug cartel, the Daily Caller website is reporting. According to the news site, Mack said late Tuesday that "Eric Holder should resign Fast and Furiously."