Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis warned on Thursday that the Internet ranks as part of the front lines of the war on terror. "Terrorist organizations have become increasingly adept at using the Internet and social media to recruit, inspire, and motivate individuals already in the United States to carry out attacks on their behalf," Bilirakis said at a hearing held by the Committee on Homeland Security. "We must combat the use of the Internet and other technology by terrorist organizations to inspire and encourage attacks by those who are already here.

Thursday's tea party rally at the old Capitol was a pale imitation of Tuesday's exercise. Indeed, to call it a rally is charitable when only 45 people showed up -- and 10 of those folks were hired band members.

On Thursday, the Florida House debated a measure reforming the state unemployment compensation system and passed iton an 81-38 vote that came very close to party lines. The measure would reduce unemployment compensation from 26 weeks to 20 weeks -- and down to 12 weeks if the unemployment rate drops below 5 percent. The measure would also require Floridians receiving unemployment benefits to take skills assessments. This bill is about tax relief to help business to retain jobs, insisted Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, who introduced the bill.

A Brevard County-based car maker announced Thursday that it had changed its name to Rivian Automotive. The company, formerly Avera Motors, made the switch after it was sued in federal court by Korea-based Hyundai Motor Co. Hyundai, which makes a car called the Azera, claimed trademark infringement. Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe said the company's new moniker "pays homage in part to the Indian River Lagoon considered by the Environmental Protection Agency as an 'estuary of national significance.'"

Who is the best actress to play the frenetic Mama Grizzly? You were going to say Tina Fey, weren't you? But no. The "Saturday Night Live" comedian who sometimes did a better Sarah Palin than Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential campaign, was royally dissed.

The House Education Committee passed a teacher performance pay reform measure on Thursday, the day the Senate passed a similar bill, setting the stage for what should be a dramatic debate on its merits next week. Last year, the debate over a similar measure, SB 6, which was vetoed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist, lasted until the wee hours of the morning.

A bill that would limit state revenues by tying them to inflation and population growth is ready for a final vote in the Senate after receiving its first airing on the Senate floor Thursday. The bill would place a constitutional amendment before voters in 2012, allowing them to pass the revenue cap.

Freshman Democratic Rep. Jeff Clemens held a news conference Thursday morning to lay out his proposal to place medical marijuana in the Florida Constitution. In the wake of a new poll showing a possible majority favoring the idea, Clemens introduced physicians and patients who support legalizing pot for medicinal use. If Clemens' House Joint Resolution 1407 clears the Legislature -- no sure thing in the absence of Republican support -- Floridians would vote on a constitutional amendment. A 60 percent majority is required.

Despite $197 million spent on environmental protection, it looks like more business-as-usual down in the Everglades. Is anyone really surprised? After funneling tax dollars to U.S. Sugar to buy 26,800 acres, ostensibly to save them, South Florida Water Management Districts board has agreed to explore leasing out almost 18,000 of those acres to citrus growers or other ag operations, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, applauded Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, for getting his Senate Bill 736 passed, implementing merit pay for teachers. "The education quality issue is near and dear to Senator Wise, a former educator himself, along with countless teachers impacting lives on a daily basis. He has led the shaping of this bill openly and respectfully and should be commended for his dedication to its success.

The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation released the seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers for January 2011 and found a slight decrease in the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate for January 2011 stood at 11.9 percent, down from 12 percent in December, meaning 1.1 million Floridians out of a pool of 9.28 million are unemployed.

Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Destin, released a video in which he touches on the passage of a measure in the state Senate on Wednesday, forwarding a proposed constitutional amendment to the 2012 ballot allowing Floridians to opt out of the federal health-care law backed by President Barack Obama.

The Florida Senate passed a controversial bill Thursday that would tie teacher pay to performance and student learning. Senate Bill 736, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, would base 50 percent of a teacher's evaluation on student test scores, and those evaluations would determine teacher salaries, beginning in 2014. The bill would also phase out tenure for teachers, as each new teacher hired after July 1 would be offered a one-year contract.

Setting up a showdown with the Senate -- or killing it for good -- House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez Cantera and Rep. Erik Fresen say a bill to slap a tax on Dosal Tobacco Co. is "dead on arrival." The website Shark-Tank.net reported Thursday that Rep. John Tobias HB 1207 is going nowhere.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio blasted President Barack Obama for being "absolutely absent" from the Senate debate over the budget. "He is nowhere to be found. He refuses to engage," Rubio told Miami radio station WIOD Thursday morning.