Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, released details of his Medicaid reform bill Thursday, which is expected to save more than $1 billion in a program that takes up nearly 30 percent of the state budget.

The Florida Rural Economic Development Summit began in St. Augustine on Thursday morning with leaders grappling with how to prepare the Sunshine States 32 rural counties for the new economy.

As Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson lawyers up in search of ways to ram the rejected high-speed railroad through Florida, he's getting help from Republican Rep. John Mica. The House Transportation Committee chairman said, "The (U.S. transportation) secretary and I have decided to look at our options; by end of the week and soon as the highly paid folks analyze them, a new plan will be formed." The Florida congressman's words echo Nelson's comments, which has conservative groups wondering: What side of the aisle is Mica sitting on?

The Susan B. Anthony List, a national pro-life organization, honored Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Brandon, on Wednesday by presenting her with the 2011 Susan B. Anthony Young Leader Award. I am honored and humbled to receive this award, said Burgin. It is my responsibility to defend the rights of the unborn and help strengthen Floridas families. I am thankful to have a platform and vehicle as a member of the Florida Legislature to help create a culture and state that values life. The legislator also won the praise of a key member of the House leadership.

Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio released a video marking the two-year anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the federal stimulus into law. Calling the stimulus a mistake, Rubio hoped the nation would never enact similar legislation again.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is speaking to Republicans in the Legislature on Wednesday night, is not the only possible Republican presidential candidate hitting the Sunshine State this week. Former U.S. Sen.

Refusing to take Gov. Rick Scott's "no" for an answer, Sen. Bill Nelson said he and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood are discussing a plan to fund the derailed Tampa-Orlando high-speed train without the state governments participation.

Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, one of Gov. Rick Scott's earliest supporters, released a statement just after midday Wednesday expressing her disappointment in Scott's rejection of the federal government's $2.4 billion in high-speed rail stimulus money. The following is Dockery's full statement:

Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich, D-Weston, chided Gov. Rick Scott Wednesday for his decision to turn down $2.4 billion in federal money for a high-speed rail project connecting Tampa to Orlando. Rich chided Scott's "let's get to work" slogan, saying the project would have created thousands of jobs.

A Medicaid reform bill will be unveiled Thursday during the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee meeting, Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, who chairs the committee, announced Wednesday.

Democrats weighed in on Wednesday morning, expressing opposition to Gov. Rick Scott rejecting federal monies targeted for high-speed rail in the Sunshine State.

House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, offered qualified support for Gov. Rick Scotts refusal of federal funds for a high-speed rail project between Tampa and Orlando.

Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday told U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that Florida is rejecting the $2.4 billion in federal funding for the Tampa-Orlando high-speed rail project. Scott wrote that his decision to reject the project came down to "three main economic realities": "First -- capital cost overruns from the project could put Florida taxpayers on the hook for an additional $3 billion.

Amid all the political posturing over the need for a statewide prescription drug database, the state of Florida continues to identify and punish "pill mill" doctors who abuse their privileges. The Board of Medicine, which has final order authority over disciplinary cases involving physicians and physician assistants, "regularly assesses fines and penalties against licensees who violate the prescribing rules and regulations," said Department of Health spokeswoman MichelleDahnke.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, the chairman of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, took to the House floor on Tuesday to praise Republican efforts to cut $100 billion from the federal budget --and what his subcommittee was doing to trim the fat.