The Florida Supreme Court put this week's high-speed rail lawsuit on a fast track, scheduling oral arguments for 3 p.m. Thursday. State Sens. Thad Altman and Arthenia Joyner sued Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday, demanding that the court intervene to require him to accept $2.4 billion in federal stimulus funds for the controversial bullet train project. Scott's office responded at noon Wednesday, the court-ordered deadline, with a 26-page brief that contended, among other things, that the senators had no legal standing to sue.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania offered a response to Fox News suspending him as a contributor while he ponders running for the Republican presidential nomination.

Politico is reporting that Fox News has suspended contributors former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania until they decide to run for the Republican presidential nomination. Fox News did not suspend three other possible candidates -- former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton -- who are also contributors.

Gov. Rick Scott asked the Florida Supreme Court to deny a petition from state senators seeking to overturn his rejection of $2.4 billion in federal stimulus funds for a high-speed rail project. Reiterating his opposition to the project and his authority to reject funding, Scott submitted a 26-page response to the lawsuit filed Tuesday by Sens. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, and Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa. Full details to follow.

Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio joined in the overwhelming majority in the Senate on Wednesday to pass a resolution to keep the federal government funded for two more weeks. He weighed in on the matter after the vote.

The U.S. Senate has passed a spending resolution that will keep the government funded for another two weeks. The measure, which cuts about $4 billion in spending in that time, passed through the House earlier this week. It now heads to President Barack Obama's desk for his signature to avoid a government shutdown after Friday.

A fringe Baptist church that has picketed in Florida and a dozen other states scored a key legal victory Wednesday when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the group could demonstrate near military funerals. The justices ruled 8-1 that the Westboro Baptist Church was exercising legitimate free-speech rights with its "God hates fags" message. Justice Samuel Alito dissented, saying free speech shouldn't be "a license for vicious verbal assault."

The U.S. House passed a spending measure on Tuesday that will keep the federal government open for the next two weeks. Freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland praised the Houses actions, noting that it saved taxpayers $4 billion.

Freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams took aim at President Barack Obama on Tuesday, hammering his administration on energy. Adams maintained that the president needed to be open to more energy options, including increased oil drilling.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, weighed in on the lawsuit offered by Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, and Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, against Gov. Rick Scotts rejection of federal funds for high-speed rail.

No surprise from the special election on Tuesday night as former Rep. Oscar Braynon cruised to victory to claim the Senate seat that had been held by fellow Democrat Frederica Wilson before her election to Congress. Braynon won the seat, which represents parts of Miami-Dade County, over Republican candidate former North Miami Mayor Joe Celestin. Braynon took 73.6 percent of the vote, easily routing Celestin who stood at 26.4 percent. Sign up for news alerts from Sunshine State News

Gov. Rick Scott, who has until later on Wednesday to file a response, fired back at Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, and Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, who sued him to accept federal funds for a high-speed rail project. My position remains unchanged, Ive yet to see any evidence that Florida taxpayers would not be on the hook, said Scott late on Tuesday. Senators Altman and Joyners disrespect for taxpayers is clear by their lawsuit trying to force the state to spend this money.

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is looking to tap into the tea party phenomenon as he continues to eye running for the Republican presidential nomination. Freedom First PAC, a leadership group with ties to Pawlenty, has the former governor praising the tea party movement.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced on Tuesday that it would be sending more than $1 million to the Big Bend Jobs and Education Council Inc. in Tallahassee as part of its $30.7 million YouthBuild program. These monies are targeted for young people to learn about the construction trade through hands-on training and finish high school and GED programs.

As expected, two Florida lawmakers filed a petition Tuesday with the Florida Supreme Court seeking to overturn Gov. Rick Scott's rejection of federal high-speed rail funds. Sens. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, and Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, filed their petition to force Florida to accept some $2.4 billion in stimulus funds from Washington, D.C. Details will follow.