Some $8 billion in earmarks are embedded in the Senate's omnibus budget bill, and Bill Nelson is one of the biggest pork dealers. Reneging on his vote against earmarks just weeks ago, Florida's senior senator has embedded millions of dollars' worth of personal special projects into the spending plan. Nelson's continued pork-barreling -- along with that of Florida's lame-duck Democratic congressmen -- was rebuked by Republicans who vow to bottle up the budget bill. The Senate must pass the budget or enact another continuing resolution by Saturday.

A report released Wednesday by AAA shows that the number of Americans traveling during the year-end holidays will increase 3.1 percent over last year. In 2009, 89.5 million people traveled 50 miles or more from home between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2. AAA expects 92.3 million to do so this year. About 85.7 million of those travelers -- 93 percent -- will go by car or vehicle, with the rest opting for planes or trains.

The Florida Chamber Foundation unveiled its study of trade and logistics in the Sunshine State -- and argued that an increased focus on these industries could lead to an additional 143,000 jobs in the state. The study maintained that Floridas geographic position and the expansion of the Panama Canal expected to be finished in 2014 could lead to increased trade through the Sunshine State, especially if Latin America and the Caribbean rebound.

The lame ducks in the U.S. Senate are set to work over the weekend to get things done and wrap up the session ahead of the Christmas holiday. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the Senate would work through the weekend, according to Roll Call.

Politico published an excellent piece on Wednesday about the future of Republican U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, and whether his ties to Gov. Charlie Crist will hurt him with the Florida GOP if he chooses to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012. The story also offers an interesting look at the thoughts of Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, on LeMieux. Haridopolos is considering launching a bid against Nelson as well. From the article:

Freshman Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton, does not believe that new members of the House need to keep their mouth shut -- but then he is not exactly lacking in experience. Hager, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, has an impressive background, serving as an aide in Congress, and a member of the Boca Raton City Council who even served a stint as vice mayor and as an assistant attorney general in Iowa.

On Tuesday, outgoing Republican U.S. Sen. George LeMieux defended the deal with President Barack Obama to extend tax cuts backed by George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003 for all Americans.

Time magazine announced on Wednesday that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is its Person of the Year. Incidentally, Zuckerberg, who is 26, is one of the youngest people to ever receive that honor; the initial honor was bestowed on aviator Charles Lindberg when he was25. Of course, the film about Zuckerberg -- The Social Network -- is on many film critics lists of best films in 2010.

Incoming Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam weighed in on the cold weather plaguing Florida and how it impacted the states farms.

Former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, who was part of the Republican leadership in Congress, announced Tuesday that he would not run for mayor of West Palm Beach. In doing so, Foley pulled the plug on a political comeback four years after resigning from Congress under a cloud of scandal after it was revealed that he sent sexually explicit messages to a young man serving as a congressional page.

Surely everyone would agree that balancing a budget is tough, especially when Florida's facing a projected $3 billion plus shortfall in 2011. But Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, suggested the unthinkable Tuesday during a round table-style discussion in Fort Lauderdale with Gov.-elect Rick Scott. "Perhaps we should think about a limited income tax," Thurston said. Immediately, the room erupted with laughter and jeers.

The Florida Public Service Commission reached a settlement with Florida Power & Light to increase its rates $75.5 million but freezing its base rates for the next two years.

A border-control advocate argues in the New York Times that Congress' inability to "compromise" on immigration is due to party labels. And that, he says, is a good thing.

CBS' "60 Minutes" talked to incoming House Speaker John Boehner about the tea party movement and pounced on him for "voting for almost every spending increase (George W.) Bush asked for." Reporter Leslie Stahl, citing a letter written to Boehner by Punta Gorda tea party activist Robin Stublen, closely questioned the Ohio Republican on the GOP's commitment to fiscal restraint, and Boehner admitted: "We lost our way." Stublen & Co. still aren't convinced that establishment Republicans on Capitol Hill have seen the light.

The U.S. Justice Department announced today that it would appeal Monday's federal court ruling against the federal health-care plan. The decision from a U.S. District Court in Richmond, Va., declared that the law's "individual mandate" to purchase insurance is unconstitutional. Federal lawyers have a multilevel strategy to defend the mandate. The Wall Street Journal put it this way: