State CFO Jeff Atwater named Thomas Kirwin as deputy CFO on Thursday, overseeing law enforcement efforts in the Department of Financial Services -- and to handle the CFOs attempts to crack down on insurance fraud. Atwater named Kirwin, who served as an assistant U.S. attorney, to lead the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations, the Division of Insurance Fraud and the Office of Fiscal Integrity.

John McCain, elder statesman? Politico is reporting that the U.S. senator from Arizona is keeping on the sidelines during the 2012 Republican presidential race and will not back any of the candidates as the race begins. McCain is in an odd spot. Not only is he the GOPs last presidential nominee but his running mate, former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, is a possible candidate.

Bill Nelson's vote on Wednesday to affirm President Obama's health-care law puts the senator on increasingly thin ice in Florida. Joining his fellow Democrats, Nelson ratified a law that had been ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge two days earlier. Nelson didn't directly address the constitutional issue, but wants a quick review by the U.S. Supreme Court -- hoping to get the matter resolved before he faces re-election in 2012.

Attorney General Pam Bondi stressed the urgency of Florida's "pill mill" problem Thursday, emphasizing the need for new rules that would help law-enforcement officers combat doctors who prescribe powerful painkillers to otherwise healthy patients.

Gov. Rick Scott is giving glimpses into how he plans to cut the state budget by $5 billion, which is more than $1 billion above what is needed to make up the shortfall currently projected. Link to video here

Freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Webster reviewed his first month in Congress on Thursday. Having served as speaker of the Florida House and majority leader of the state Senate, Webster mightbe new to Congress but he is no stranger to politics. He defeated Democrat U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson in November in one of the most watched congressional races in the nation.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will be hitting the road, leading his committee across the county to get input from stakeholders and constituents on transportation issues. The best ideas to improve and streamline government programs often come from outside of Washington, and before we draft any legislation these meetings will provide the committee with valuable insight and information, said Mica.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns insists that too many federal regulations are hurting the economy -- and he is asking the American people for help in proving his case. A report in the Wall Street Journal found that the cost of regulations in the United States rose to $1.75 trillion in 2008, and it is likely higher now, said Stearns on Wednesday. It is the American people who must comply with these regulations and pay their costs, and I am asking them to report any burdensome regulations that hurt the economy.

Is it 2012 yet? It certainly seems like it with Democrats and their allies running radio ads against three freshmen Republicans in Congress in the Sunshine State. The Republicans are also getting an early start as the National Republican Senate Committee released an ad on Tuesday taking aim at Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

Florida and three other states are investigating whether banks overcharged public pension funds for foreign-exchange transactions, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Quoting people familiar with the situation, the Journal said the Florida Attorney General's Office is among those conducting "widening" probes into alleged excess fees charged to public retirement funds.

A poll released by Quinnipiac University on Thursday morning showed that Florida will be in the frontlines in the 2012 political wars when both President Barak Obama and Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson face challenges for re-election.

While the DCCC is targeting two Republican freshmen in Congress from Florida, another one is under fire from Blue America PAC. Blue America will be running an ad that targets U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams for not signing up for the congressional health care plan as she is already covered. Blue America is targeting 15 other Republicans with similar ads.

Gov. Rick Scott sent a letter to Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, on Wednesday, withdrawing more than 150 unconfirmed appointees left over from Charlie Crists administration. There are some familiar names, of course -- for example, Mimi Drew at the Department of Environmental Protection as well as Art Graham and Ronald Brise at the PSC -- but also a lot of lesser appointments, ranging from professional boards to college trustees.

Republicans in the U.S. Senate tried to repeal the federal health care law backed by President Barack Obama on Wednesday but failed in a party lines vote.

The Florida State Seminoles vaulted to the top of the country's 2011 football class, landing several blue-chip recruits on National Signing Day Wednesday. Building on a strong 2010 season, in which they crushed in-state rivals Florida and Miami, the Noles earned the No. 1 recruit ranking from ESPN. FSU had 29 signees, including one five-star commitment and 16 four-star commits. In a sign that the ACC's balance of power is shifting back to Tallahassee, defending conference champion Virginia Tech's recruiting class failed to place in ESPN's Top 25.