Gov. Rick Scott said creating more jobs and opportunities and leveling the playing field for everyone -- that's the best way to achieve Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of a society where character, not skin color, is the determinant factor. Speaking from the Governors Mansion Monday night in Tallahassee during a reception to honor King, Scott said the civil rights leaders dream will best be fulfilled by actions, not words.

Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, met with Gov. Rick Scott Monday to talk about Florida's transportation projects, including a high-speed rail line connecting Tampa and Orlando. Mica, of Winter Park, who represents Florida's 7th Congressional District, called for no more government funding for the project and said he and Gov. Scott are on the same wave length.

According to Politico, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has yet to decide whether or not to join the official Tea Party Caucus. In the story, Rubio's spokesperson said he is still committed to tea party ideals and goals, but hasn't made an official decision on joining the caucus.

Cutomers of Progress Energy Florida pay more than the customers of its new parent company, North Carolina-based Duke Energy -- and the diference is sizable. According to a story in the St. Petersburg Times, "Puzzled by the Price of Power?" -- Progress Energy Florida customers pay $119.34 per 1,000 kilowatt hours of power, Progress Energy North Carolina customers pay $102.19 and Duke Energy North Carolina customers pay and $92.99.

Market Watch rated the states most likely to recover from the housing crisis the fastest and the slowest last week, and the Sunshine State was ranked as the fourth-slowest state. Florida's 6 percent mortgage delinquency rate, 11.7 percent unemployment rate and 46.9 percent slide in home prices since the housing bubble burst were cited to explain the state's snail-like recovery.

Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio offered his thoughts on the King holiday on Monday.

Rob Siedlecki is headed to Kansas. Siedlecki, the former chief of staff in the Department of Health, was selected by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, probably best known for his time in the U.S. Senate and his brief bid for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, as the new secretary of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) pending legislative approval.

The phone connection was a little shaky fromhalf a world away -- the call even dropped off once. But Monday morning, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wanted to phone in and give Floridians an update on what he's seeing firsthand with the war efforts in Afghanistan. Florida's newest senator is nearing the end of a nearly weeklong visit to the region where he's watched military exercises and visited with everyone from top officials in Pakistan and Afghanistan to people in the street markets.

Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, who is considering running against Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, joined many of his fellow Florida Republicans in criticizing President Barack Obamas new policies on visiting Cuba. Relaxed travel restrictions will do nothing to end civil rights abuses in Cuba, posted LeMieux on his Twitter account on Monday. U.S. should increase pressure on regime, not weaken.

Over the weekend, Attorney General Pam Bondi offered her take on the King holiday. On Monday, we will recognize a great leader in our nations history, Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was instrumental in showing how to lead and to disagree, with passion and civility, said Bondi. Dr. King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other nonviolent means. His dedication to solving critical issues through productive instead of destructive means is an inspiration to us all.

Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady issued an administrative order Friday outlining new procedures for review and oversight of construction projects for the state's district courts of appeal. The new procedures include review of capital projects and their expenditures by the state courts administrator, the hiring of an internal project monitor for construction projects, with added oversight from the Supreme Court Office of Inspector General throughout the construction process.

As Legoland Florida, the state's newest theme park, nears completion 50 miles southwest of Orlando, the company building it is considering other British-style attractions that could go over big in Central Florida.

Former state Rep. David Bitner routed the field to become the head of the Republican Party of Florida on Saturday. Bitner won the new position on the second ballot. I just want to say we have a great team, said Bitner. We are taking our country back. There is unity here.

One of the biggest applause lines at Friday night's RPOF gathering in Orlando was former House Speaker Allan Bense's praise for Gov. Rick Scott. "I want to commend the fact that Governor Scott didn't meddle in this race," Bense said in wrapping up an hourlong forum featuring the five candidates for state chairman.

Take a minute to hear what Gov. Rick Scott had to say in his weekly radio address, released Friday evening. Click on the link here.