In an interview with the Shark Tank, a Florida politics blog, Marco Rubio questioned the need for a tea party caucus in Washington.

A special Florida Senate panel conducting hearings on immigration issues will hear a presentation Monday by economic development professional Dale A. Brill. Brill, who is president of the Florida Chamber Foundation, will discuss his report, "Immigration and Floridas Economy." He will be joined by Adam Babington, the Chamber's vice president of government affairs . The meeting will start at 2:45 p.m. in the Pat Thomas Committee Room of the Knott Building. Sunshine State News will provide full coverage.

A former Miami Hurricane played a big role in the NFC Championship game Sunday. No, it wasn't the Chicago Bears' speedy Devin Hester or tight end Greg Olsen. It was Green Bay Packers' safety Sam Shields, who intercepted two Chicago passes -- one just before halftime and one at the end of the game to seal Green Bay's 21-14 victory.

Here's a turnaround. Where the Republican Party of Florida elected traditional insider Dave Bitner as its chairman two weeks ago, three of four states voting for GOP chairmen Saturday went instead for tea party candidates. Compare Bitner, a Jefferson County state committeeman who served as the District 71 state representative from 19922000, with these three tea partiers:

President Barack Obama apparently has no intention of listening to 2010's victorious Republicans in Congress who continue to call for dramatic budget cuts. A story in Saturday's Wall Street Journal by Damian Paletta, Jonathan Weisman and Laura Meckler reports Obama is going to drop a spending-spree bombshell on the American public in Tuesday night's State of the Union address.

In an abrupt and unexpected ending, fiery liberal political pundit Keith Olbermann said farewell to his audience Friday night. MSNBC confirmed they terminated their contract with Olbermann, and Olbermann hinted that he had only been told earlier that day.

In his weekly radio address, disseminated via YouTube, Gov. Rick Scott says he's already making progress on bringing in jobs. This week he welcomed Vision Airlines to Destin and the tens of thousands of tourists to the state each month. He says the new airline will create 4,000 jobs in the state, though he didn't specify how many would be new hires by Vision, and how many would come from the bolstered tourism industry.

The leaders of Florida TaxWatch praised Gov. Rick Scott for naming Jack Miles to lead the Department of Management Services (DMS). Florida taxpayers should be encouraged that Gov. Scott identified and successfully recruited Secretary Miles, a business leader with more than 30 years of cost-cutting contract and procurement experience, said Marshall Criser III, who is the chairman of the groups board of trustees.

Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, weighed in on Gov. Rick Scott appointing Jack Miles to lead the Department of Management Services (DMS).

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan was named a Friend of Agriculture by the Florida Farm Bureau on Friday. I am honored to receive this award, said Buchanan. Florida agriculture contributes an estimated $100 billion to the states economy. During these difficult economic times, it is imperative that Congress continues to work hard on behalf of those who provide us with a safe and abundant food supply.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, applauded Gov. Rick Scott's pick as head of the Department of Management Services --Jack Miles, the former senior director at CIGNA --and indicated he would likely get a smooth ride through the confirmation process.

Former Sen. Rod Smith, the chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, reached out to newly elected Republican Party of Florida Chairman David Bitner, hoping to join forces in moving the states presidential primary back.

Gov. Rick Scott's office released a statement Friday on Florida's 12 percent unemployment rate for December, calling the number "unacceptable." "Todays report of a 12 percent unemployment rate for Florida in December means that more than 1.1 million Floridians are jobless. This is not acceptable. The numbers reaffirm my commitment to getting Florida back to work, and prove that we must put job creation first by making Florida the best place to do business, Scott said.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce praised Gov. Rick Scott for selecting Jack Miles to lead the Department of Management Service. As a veteran business leader highly skilled in sourcing and contract management, Jack Miles brings the expertise needed to help government run more like a business, said former House Speaker Allan Bense, who chairs the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Governor Scotts appointment of Jack Miles further solidifies his commitment to reduce costs and ensure government is living within its means.

Gov. Rick Scott named Jack Miles, a former senior director at CIGNA, to lead the states Department of Management Services on Friday. Pointing to his new appointee saving more than $80 million in less than two years at CIGNA, Scott insisted that Miles would be able to cut costs and provide returns on investments in his new role. Miles also worked as a vice president at Computer Associates and for American International Group.