The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association has joined the Florida Chamber of Commerce in opposing the expansion of casino gambling. The influential trade association called the destination casino bills expected to be debated in the Legislature in 2012 a rose surrounded by thorns. Whether it is called destination resorts by proponents, or casino hotels by opponents, it still boils down to one incendiary issue -- gambling, the association stated in its 2012 priorities.

With news breaking on Friday that the unemployment rate in Florida dropped to 10.6 percent, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, now in a crowded Republican primary for the U.S. Senate election in 2012, took aim at President Barack Obama and the man he wants to replace -- Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

Its probably not at the level of the Rat Pack performing for John F. Kennedys presidential campaign but rock bands will be crossing the country in support of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, the Texas congressman making his second bid for the Republican nomination. They are dubbing it the "Rock the Revolution" tour. Libertarians backing Paul can be heartened by one of the band names -- Rothbard, a clear tribute to the iconic Austrian school economist Murray Rothbard.

With a 1.3 percent growth in employment this year, Gov. Rick Scott announced in a conference call from Brazil, where he is leading a trade mission, that Florida is bucking the national trend in job creation. Scott made the call to announce Floridas unemployment rate dropped for the first time in four months, from 10.7 percent in August to 10.6 percent.

Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, released a video on Thursday, updating Floridians on the redistricting process and the budget process. Acknowledging that the budget process will be tough as the state continues to raise revenue,Gardiner promised that Republicans in the Senate would not raise taxes or fees in the 2012 session.

Republican officials remain mum about a GOP lawmaker's comments drawing a line between legal and illegal residents in the redistricting process, but one veteran party strategist said the remarks were "legitimate." "Senator [Alan} Hays has made a legitimate point in discussing the obvious differences between legally registered voters and those individuals that the federal Census correctly identifies as 'Hispanic' or Latino," said Doug Guetzloe of Orlando.

Gov. Rick Scott filled two county commission seats Thursday that have been vacant since last year due to suspensions. Michael F. Joyner, a 38-year veteran law enforcement officer, has been named to complete the term of former Levy County Commissioner Tony Parker. In Highlands County, builder William Ron Handley was appointed to complete the county commission term of Jeff Carlson. In June, Joyner shifted from full-time to part-time with the Levy County sheriffs office, where he was working as a civil division bailiff and agriculture investigator.

The Florida Senate is adding a new Spanish-language translation feature on its website. The Ver En Espal button will be placed on the home page to allow visitors to read select pages in Spanish. With the introduction of this new feature, we are giving an entire segment of our states population easy access to a wealth of valuable information, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, stated in a release.

Florida has received 100 maps from residents proposing how to redraw the state's legislative and congressional districts. House Redistricting Chairman Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Senate Reapportionment Chairman Don Gaetz, R-Niceville,marked the event by making a video for MyFloridaHouse that was posted on YouTube.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be on center stage at a fundraiser in Orlando for the Republican Party of Florida. Palin will be at the 2011 RPOF Victory Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 3. "This gala dinner comes just a year before one of the most important elections in Florida and the nation's history," said RPOF Chairman Lenny Curry. "Having a Republican leader of Governor Palin's stature and importance is yet again proof of the crucial role Florida will play as the year unfolds. We are so grateful that Governor Palin has accepted our invitation."

Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, now running in a crowded Republican primary to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, came out swinging at the Occupy Wall Street movement on Thursday.

A poll released on Thursday found that businessman Herman Cain now leads the pack of Republican presidential candidates in Iowa --the state that holds the first in the procession of primaries and caucuses that will determine who emerges to take on President Barack Obama in November 2012.

Florida Chamber President Mark Wilson reaffirmed the business organizations opposition to legislation that would allow expanded casino gambling in South Florida. However, he said, during a media conference in the Capitol Thursday on the priorities of the chamber in the upcoming session, the group is willing to take a second look at the casinos if advocates are able to show the proposed megacasinos would reduce rather than expand gambling.

Businessman Herman Cain, one of the leading Republican presidential candidates in polls at the state and national levels, is drawing fire from one his rivals -- former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania -- for comments he made about abortion. Cain first told Piers Morgan in a CNN interview, I believe that life begins at conception. And abortion under no circumstances.