On Wednesday, Attorney General Bill McCollum said that the states Lemon Law Arbitration Program, which has been on the books for 22 years, garnered more than $400 million in refunds to almost 15,000 customers. "For 22 years, Florida's Lemon Law program has been a model among consumer protection efforts," said McCollum. "Floridians have somewhere to get help if their new car turns out to be a lemon, and $400 million in relief certainly shows many Florida residents have relied on this service."

On Wednesday, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis launched his latest salvo at ACORN when he announced that he had sent a letter last week to W. Craig Fugate of FEMA demanding to know why the group was sending money to ACORN through a grant program. Bilirakis pointed to a report from the Department of Homeland Security office of inspector general that showed ACORN was awarded more than $450,000 through a fire prevention and safety grant by FEMA back in FY 2007. Bilirakis maintained that ACORN had no such expertise.

On Wednesday morning, Gov. Charlie Crist has a ceremonial signing for the creation of the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Sen. Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville, and Rep. Alvin Williams, D-Tallahassee, sponsored the bill earlier in the year. A portion of the Capitol will be set aside to honor the inductees.

A private rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Wednesday morning en route to two orbits around Earth. The unmanned Falcon 9 rocket, built by Space Exploration Technologies Corp., is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean Wednesday afternoon. The Space X venture eventually aims to supply the International Space Station, and Wednesday's planned 90-minute flight was considered a major test for the commercial space industry. The Obama administration wants to privatize larger portions of NASA's mission.

State officials said Wednesday that a pilot program started in Lee County to provide foreclosure prevention assistance will be rolled out statewide in February 2011, provided it gets approval from the federal government.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee issued a mini-declaration of political beliefs on Tuesday -- perhaps the core of a platform for another shot at the Republican presidential nomination.

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan was chosen by Republicans to lead the House Energy and Commerce Committee -- beating U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns of Florida.

Four college bowl games are scheduled for New Year's Eve, and all four involve teams from Florida. The South Florida Bulls and Clemson kick off the action at noon in the Car Care Bowl (ESPN). At 2 p.m., the Miami Hurricanes tangle with Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl (CBS). Central Florida takes on Georgia in the Liberty Bowl at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN). In the nightcap, at 7:30 p.m., Florida State plays South Carolina in the Peach Bowl (ESPN). Two other Florida teams are bowl-bound as well.

On Tuesday, Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, named more chairs and vice chairs of the House committees that will shape legislation and laws in Florida for the next two years.

Current Attorney General Bill McCollum and Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, with the support of incoming Attorney General Pam Bondi and incoming Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state against the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the EPAs interference with the states clean-water program. Read the full story now.

Conceding his eroding political position in Congress, President Barack Obama defended a compromise package that retains the Bush tax rates for all Americans and extends jobless benefits. "Some would prefer a protracted political fight," Obama said in a nod to his left-wing supporters. And, seeking to hold that base, he pledged to "fight to end" the upper-income tax cuts in two years, when they would expire.

The Florida House will be tackling one of the chief problems impacting the Sunshine State with the creation of a select committee to handle the thorny issue of water management. House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, announced on Tuesday that he was creating the Select Committee on Water Policy to address the issue.

The Health Care Freedom Act, introduced by Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, continues to keep its momentum in the Florida Legislature. Great news! posted former Sen. Carey Baker, now part of Haridopolos staff, on Facebook. Sen. Mike Haridopolos' SJR-2, Health Care Freedom Act, now has 26 senators as co-sponsors, virtually the entire Republican caucus. Nice to know your elected officials got the message about stopping the federal health care takeover.

Gov. Charlie Crist did not support the measure; Palm Beach County Human Rights Council President Rand Hoch is hopeful that incoming Gov. Rick Scott will sign an executive order for equal opportunity in state employment.