Republicans on the House Economic Affairs Committee withstood heavy opposition from business interests and Bible-quoting migrants to approve an immigration reform bill Thursday. While Democrats tried to portray House Bill 7089 as the second coming of Arizona's controversial law, sponsor Bill Snyder said the bill legally balances border enforcement and employment verification.

While he did not enter the competitive Republican primary to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack showed this week that he has no intention of heading to the political sidelines. On Wednesday, Mack, who had been named chairman of the Repeal Task Force set up by the Republican Study Committee earlier in the month, unveiled his new group and came out swinging at the presidents speech on the national debt made earlier in the day.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear spoke Thursday before the U.S. House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade on the rampant abuse of prescription drugs in both states.

Florida Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio told Roll Call on Wednesday that he is enjoying the media spotlight -- and buzz about future presidential or vice presidential ambitions -- since it means he is championing the right agenda.

After six years on the job and swirling in controversy, South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Carol Wehle, 56, announced her retirement from the district Wednesday. She did so in a letter to interim board chairman Joe Collins presented at a closed-door workshop (see letter attached below).

State Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, announced on Wednesday that his U.S. Senate campaign team reeled in $2.6 million for the first quarter of 2010 with the bulk of it -- more than $2.5 million -- on hand.

The House and Senate budget talks, originally scheduled for this week, will have to wait until after Easter, as preparations to begin conference meetings broke down. "We are not ready to go to conference," said Senate Budget Committee Chairman J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales. The differences between the two budgets mainly revolve around the Senate's $69.8 billion budget, which brings in the water management districts, consolidates the Turnpike Enterprise and includes the clerks of court budget, which are left out of the House's $66.5 billion budget.

Florida Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio released a video on Wednesday afternoon, responding to President Barack Obamas address earlier in the day on the debt.

Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux released the following statement Wednesday afternoon on House Speaker Dean Cannon's announcement that a committee will decide the presidential primary date: In a time of fiscal crisis, Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon are wasting tax money on something that shouldn't be an issue.

Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon announced during a media telephone conference Wednesday that Reps. Seth McKeel and Dennis Baxley will introduce an amendment Thursday creating a 10-member committee to choose Florida's much-debated presidential primary date. Cannon said the amendment has the support of Senate President Mike Haridopolos. The amendment stipulates that three each of the committee's members will be appointed by the House, the Senate and the governor's office. The 10th member, the secretary of state, will serve as chairman.

Sen. Bill Nelson's campaign confirmed Wednesday that he willreport having $4.5 million to$5 million in the bank for his re-election bid. "Word on the street among campaign consultants isthat Nelson will reportraising more this quarter than any other elected Democrat in the Senate, except for New York's U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who reportedly raised$3 million," the campaign said in a statement. Campaign-finance numbers for Nelson's first announced GOP challenger, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, were not yet available.

Earlier this week, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney and New Jersey Democratic U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews reintroduced a measure that would give lenders up to 45 days to decide whether to accept offers. Rooney and Andrews, who introduced a similar bill in 2010, argued that the bill would help jump the real estate economy and lead to an increase of short sales.

On Wednesday, pro-life activist and Democratic presidential candidate Randall Terry, best known for founding Operation Rescue, slammed Republican leadership in Washington for keeping federal funding of Planned Parenthood. While Terry said that U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, should be commended for cutting off federal funds for abortion in Washington, D.C., he found little else to cheer in the recent budget agreements.

The Senate Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations voted unanimously Wednesday to pass a bill removing several seaport security measures passed by the state in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Federal seaport security laws passed after those provisions were enacted created unnecessary regulations.

On Wednesday morning, state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam released a statement with his reflections on his first 100 days in office Putnams team called improving Floridas health and nutrition, fostering expansion of Floridas agriculture industry into renewable energy production and preserving Floridas water quality and quantity their chiefs top three priorities and also noted he was fighting to increase consumer confidence in the states seafood.