The space shuttle Discovery, the world's most traveled orbiter, is scheduled to blast off on its final mission at 4:50 p.m. Thursday. "Everything is on track and going beautifully with the countdown," said Mike Moses, mission management team chair. "We're really looking forward to a very action-packed, successful mission and everything is on track." With a rosy weather forecast, NASA is proceeding with preparations for the launch that will send six astronauts to the International Space Station.

Despite getting less than 21 percent of the vote when he took on Democratic U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings back in November, former Haitian Senate President Bernard Sansaricq, a powerful figure from that island nation back in the '80s and early '90s, is angling for a rematch with the incumbent in 2012. While Sansaricq was a very heavy underdog to knock off Hastings, he did receive the endorsement of former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The once and perhaps future Republican nominee has filed with the state Division of Elections.

A Gallup poll released on Wednesday indicated that, with less than a year to go until Republicans start deciding who their presidential candidate will be, no front-runner has emerged in the potentially crowded field.

Florida House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, praised U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who spoke to House Republicans Wednesday morning. It was an honor to have U.S. Senator Rubio address the members of the Florida House today, said Lopez-Cantera. At the national level, he is championing conservatism and fiscal restraint vital to reduce the budget deficit and ensure the future prosperity of our nation.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott weighed in on Tuesday in a radio spot on an issue that is front and center on the national political stage -- collective bargaining. Scott said he backed collective bargaining provided union members kept tabs on what their leaders are negotiating. Read more from Politico. Sign up for news alerts from Sunshine State News

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who has his eye on running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, went to bat for Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin in his struggle with public-sector employees over benefit reforms. It is vital that every one of us help Governor Scott Walker today, Gingrich wrote to supporters on Wednesday. In Madison, Wis., we are witnessing a profound struggle between the right of the people to govern themselves and the power of entrenched, selfish interests to stop reforms and defy the will of the people.

A joint resolution to put a constitutional amendment on the 2012 ballot allowing voters to opt out of the year-old federal health-care law passed through its third Senate committee Wednesday. Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has been pushing the bill, along with House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, as a way to push back against the Affordable Care Act that imposes an individual mandate on Americans that requires them to obtain health insurance or face fines or taxes.

Marco Rubio returned to the Florida House on Wednesday -- this time not as the House speaker but as a U.S. senator and an up-and-coming star who has caught the attention of conservatives and Republicans across the nation. Today is indeed a great day for the Florida House, said House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, who praised Rubio as a bold, conservative, dynamic leader. It is surreal to be back, said Rubio after receiving a standing ovation from the legislators.

Social conservative leaders are weighing in on Gov. Rick Scotts refusal of federal funds set aside for high-speed rail projects and praising the decision.

Charlie Crist is gone, but not forgotten by the Wall Street Journal. In an editorial titled "Waiting for Hurricane Charlie (Crist)," the Journal warned that Floridians are one bad storm away from fiscal disaster, thanks to the former governor's socialistic (mis)handling of the state's insurance industry. The Journal praised Gov. Rick Scott's efforts to put insurers on firmer financial footing through market-based reforms, but acknowledged that some weak-kneed Republicans could join Democrats in subverting the necessary legislation.

The House bill to require Florida employers to use E-Verify in screening new employees' legal status faces a tough vetting process itself. HB 691, authored by Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Port St. Lucie, has been assigned to go through four committees in eight weeks. "It is not impossible, but all it takes is one committee chair to delay hearing the bill and it will run out of time. It appears three of the four are not going to be friendly," said George Fuller, a member of Floridians for Immigration Enforcement, which endorses the measure.

U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said on Tuesday that he would not run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, knows a little about education. Not only does he chair the House Education Committee but he has a Ph.D. from Florida State University and is the chancellor of Flagler College. Proctor weighed in on Tuesday on new figures noting that there were more students enrolled in the state university system and that the students admitted did better on standardized tests.

A group of seven teachers spoke out against Senate Bill 736 in front of the state Capitol building in Tallahassee Tuesday. The bill would tie teacher performance and student learning gains to teacher pay.