U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, making his second bid for the Republican presidential nomination, held a money bomb over the weekend -- and pulled in more than $1 million from online donors. Paul had some success with online fundraisers when he ran for the GOP nod the last time out, and his team is doing better this time around. The fundraising event, which was held in conjunction with Constitution Day, was the fifth time the Paul team raised more than $1 million for the 2012 race in a single event.

With Arizona moving its primary up to Feb. 28, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is clearly keeping his eye on the Grand Canyon State. On Monday, U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Arizona, announced that he was backing Romney. I am proud to announce Congressman Flakes support, said Romney in a statement. Having such a strong advocate for the taxpayer on my Arizona team will be crucial as I reach out to voters across the state and spread my pro-growth message.

State Rep. Will Weatherford, the chairman of the House Redistricting Committee, set a Nov. 14 deadline which happens to be the chairs birthday for each subcommittee to submit three proposals to remap the states House, Senate and congressional districts. My suggestion would be to consider four, five, six or even more complete maps and make it a combination of those, Weatherford said. He said the public should get their redistricting proposals in by Nov. 1.

Privatizing Citizens Property Insurance, schools, prisons, airports, seaports and toll roads were among suggestions proposed Monday by members of the Florida Government Efficiency Task Force. Also tossed on the table by task force members were reducing sentencing time for juvenile misdemeanor offenders, consolidating government agencies, eliminating business regulations, downloading textbooks rather than buying hard copy editions, and going to year-round schooling.

Florida legislative committee week gets under way today. First up on the agenda is the Florida Government Efficiency Task Force at 9 a.m., Room 401 of the Senate Buildings. (Yes, it's not a House or Senate committee, but the task force includes appointees from both the House and Senate.) The goal of the task force, as suggested by Gov. Rick Scott,is to find $3 billion in savings over four years. Other key features of the day will include:

Apparently, the Republican Party in California has been reduced to fringe elements. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul rolled to a landslide victory in that state's GOP straw poll Saturday, garnering 44.9 percent of the vote. Texas Gov. Rick Perry finished second with 29.3 percent. With 833 ballots cast, the California results aren't likely to be replicated in Orlando this coming Saturday, when 3,500 delegates vote in the Presidency 5 straw poll.

CNN/Money placed Cape Coral second on a list of the best places to retire, with Clearwater also among the top 25. Cape Coral got the high ranking for low taxes, cheap housing -- thanks to the drop inreal estate values --and the year-round sunny climate. View the CNN/Money report here.

The winner of the straw poll in Florida this week will march toward the White House, Gov. Rick Scott proclaimed on Fox News. "I personally believe whoever wins that P5 straw poll, they will be the next president of the United States," Scott said during an interview Saturday. Scott, who didnt make an endorsement, also downplayed prior comments from Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich that they will not actively campaign for the straw poll.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos has announced committee assignments for the 2012 regular session. Agriculture Gary Siplin, Chair Larcenia Bullard, Vice Chair J.D. Alexander, Paula Dockery, Rene Garcia, D. Hays, Bill Montford, David Simmons.

The Republican Party of Sarasota is promising the "Coolest Party at Presidency 5" -- a night at the Ice Bar in Orlando. The event, open to all delegates, will run from 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at the International Drive nightspot that made the Travel Channel's Top 10 "Extreme Barhopping." Free entrance to those who register here.

Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, now running in a crowded Republican primary to see who will challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, weighed in on Palestinian attempts to be recognized as a state at the U.N.

Gov. Rick Scott released his weekly radio address on Friday afternoon. In it, Scott weighed in on the state remaining at 10.7 percent unemployment and called on Congress to pass stalled free-trade agreements with Panama and Colombia.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota continued to pound Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, a rival for the Republican presidential nomination, in a web video released on Friday. Bachmann followed up her attacks made in a debate held Monday on Perry ordering vaccinations for girls in public schools. The congresswoman labeled the vaccinations Perrycare and lumped it in with the federal health-care law signed by President Barack Obama.