The Florida House now has two filed bills vying for the title of "Caylee's Law." In the uproar and aftermath of Casey Anthony's acquittal last week in Orlando of the 2008 murder of her daughter, Caylee, Florida legislators were quick to announce their disgust. She did not report Caylee missing for more than one month, and was convicted of four counts of lying to investigators, but was released Wednesday for time served.

Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, now in a crowded Republican primary field to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, called on Wednesday for Senate Republicans to shut down passing appropriations bills until the Democratic-controlled Senate passes a budget.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas unveiled his first television advertisement for his bid for the Republican presidential nomination and its a blockbuster -- actually an ad for a summer blockbuster. The ad, which is set as a preview for a movie, hammers Republicans for compromising too much in standing against raising the debt and promises that Paul will not back raising the debt ceiling. The ad is being run in Iowa and New Hampshire.

U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter of Michigan, who entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination earlier in the month, took off the gloves on Thursday and tore into both President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the current favorite for the GOP nod.

Businessman Mike Yost, the Republican nominee in 2010 who took on Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown who represents parts of North Florida, is hoping to challenge again in 2012. Yost seems to be a bit more professional this time in his campaign operations, as can be seen in a web video he unveiled earlier in the week. In the video, Yost attacks Brown, arguing that the district has lagged behind the rest of the state during her almost two decades in office.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania will join fellow Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney as a speaker at CPAC FL in September. The American Conservative Union (ACU) is taking its Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on the road to hit key 2012 battlegrounds and will be holding its event in Orlando to coincide with the Republican Party of Floridas (RPOF) Presidency 5 straw poll.

The Obama administration reportedly has threatened to veto a bill that would shift regulatory power over water and wetlands to the states. The Office of Management and Budget released a statement Tuesday saying the administration "strongly opposes" House Resolution 2018 "because it would significantly undermine the Clean Water Act and could adversely affect public health, the economy and the environment."

A CNBC report has Florida ranked 18th (tied with Tennessee) among states as the best place to do business. The report measured states based on 10 different criteria. Florida scored high marks on its work force (second overall), infrastructure and transportation (eighth) and access to capital (ninth), but scored poorly on its economy (47th) and cost of doing business (40th).

Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, now running for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, took aim at President Barack Obama on Wednesday. Hasner knocked Obama for mulling over freezing Social Security payments in case a federal government shutdown occurred.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack proudly trumpeted the news that U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a favorite of the tea party movement and the son of presidential candidate Ron Paul, was backing the One Percent Spending Reduction Act. Mack introduced the proposal which would cut federal spending by 1 percent each year for the next six years. Mack and his backers, including Senate sponsor Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., have also called the measure the Penny Plan.

Appearing on the Hugh Hewitt radio show on Tuesday, Florida Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio took off the gloves and ripped into President Barack Obama over the federal budget negotiations. Asked by Hewitt if seniors in Florida would be impacted by not getting Social Security checks, Rubio insisted, if that happened, it would be Obamas fault.

A poll released on Wednesday by Quinnipiac University had good news for former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts. Not only was Romney leading the pack of hopefuls for the Republican presidential nomination but he was also the only GOP hopeful who wasn't being beaten by double digits by President Barack Obama.

With Washington gearing up for a continued fight over the federal budget, freshman Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross said on Wednesday that he was helping back legislation to ensure Social Security, Medicare, military pay and veterans' benefits would keep flowing even if a shutdown occurred. But he also insisted President Barack Obama was to blame if a federal shutdown did occur.

The 2012 Obama campaign has announced a first quarter fundraising total of $83 million, beating previous records and their own goal of $60 million, Politico reports. The figure is more than double the $35 million raised by the collective field of Republican hopefuls during the same period.

Mosaic Co.'s woes continue as a federal judge Monday extended an order keeping the fertilizer producer from expanding one of its Florida phosphate mines. Mosaic's stock opened the day Tuesday 5.2 percent down. The company has vowed to fight both the ruling and a related lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club. The environmental group claims Mosaic's South Fort Meade mine operations damage not one but two watersheds.