Shortly after 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Florida Sen. George LeMieux delivered his farewell speech on the U.S. Senate floor. Gov. Charlie Crist appointed LeMieux to fill the last 16 months of Sen. Mel Martinez's term after Martinez resigned. During the 15-minute speech, LeMieux took the opportunity to express what has been "weighing on his mind." "The single greatest threat to the future of our republic and the prosperity of our people is this Congress' failure to control its spending," he said.

Florida officials on Tuesday touted record numbers of high schools earning "A" and "B" grades last year, meaning more money for those campuses under the state's reward systems. But the celebration was muted by less-rosy results from the National Assessment for Educational Progress, which showed Florida seniors lagging in math. See Sunshine State News' coverage upcoming.

In the latest round of their constitutional challenge to new federal health-care laws backed by President Barack Obama, the plaintiffs from 20 states and the National Federation of Independent Business, led by Attorney General Bill McCollum, filed a reply in support of their motion for summary judgment against the U.S. Department of Justice and other defendants. McCollum and his allies are taking aim at the individual mandate required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

With members of the Legislature watching Waiting for Superman on Tuesday and holding a panel discussion afterward, two members of the House who will be on the panel offered their initial thoughts -- and the need for educational reform.

Florida's revenues were already facing a $2.5 billion deficit, but legislators received more bad news Tuesday during a budget committee meeting, where a state economist said general revenues dropped further than expected. Amy Baker, coordinator for the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, told state Senators that general revenues as of October were $136.1 million less than was projected, with another $100 million likely to fall in November. Those forecasts do not include the effects of the oil spill in the Gulf earlier this year.

With 2012 looming on the horizon, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin took aim at President Barack Obamas economic policies and argued that the federal government shouldn't send bailouts to the states.

Gary Bauer, best known for his leadership of the Family Research Council and his bid for the Republican presidential nomination back in 2000, hammered U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas in an e-mail to supporters sent out late Monday.

An unprecedented 13-month extension of unemployment benefits will be financed through "loans," according to congressional sources. Contradicting earlier reports that the $56 billion tab would be covered by "unspent" federal funds, the reality is that -- surprise, surprise -- there is no such money lying around.

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on the DREAM Act Wednesday. Chalk it up as another nightmare for Democrats. The measure, which would grant in-state college tuition to illegal aliens who arrived in this country before they reached age 17, is widely viewed as another amnesty-style scheme. Even former sponsor Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has awakened to DREAM's political and logistical costs. Ditto for many of the 23 Democratic senators up for re-election in 2012.

State Senate President Mike Haridopolos gave a tutorial on the 10th Amendment last week in Washington, where he participated in the "Repeal Amendment" campaign. The Merritt Island Republican joined legislative leaders from a dozen other states in calling for a "better balance" between states' rights and the rights that states confer on the federal government -- not the other way around.

President Barack Obama announced a compromise tax package Monday evening, but it is still unclear if it will pass both lame-duck chambers of Congress. Democrats and Republicans each gave up something in the deal, which looks like this: -- Bush-era tax cuts extended for two years for all income levels. -- Unemployment benefits extended for 13 months. -- A 2 percent employee payroll tax cut in 2011. -- Businesses may write off investments in 2011. -- The estate tax, or "death tax" held at 35 percent, above $5 million.

The state will be lowering flags to half mast on Tuesday to remember the 69th anniversary of the Japanese attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, leading to U.S. intervention in World War II.

Gov.-elect Rick Scott released a video Monday detailing his strategy for the upcoming "Let's Get To Work" tour. He talks about his 10-cities-in-five-days tour, during which he will talk to military and business people across Florida to make sure his "seven-step plan to 700,000 jobs" will work and "get the state back to work as soon as we can." View the video below.

Select members of the Florida House and Senate will attend a viewing of the documentary film "Waiting for Superman" at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Miracle 5 Theater on Thomasville Road in Tallahassee. Following the movie, a one-hour panel discussion will be moderated by state Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Daytona Beach. Panelists will include: Speaker Pro Tem John Legg, R-Port Richey; Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville; Rep. Marty Kiar, D-Parkland; Leon County School Superintendent Jackie Pons; and Patricia Levesque, from Jeb Bush's Foundation for Floridas Future

Stand for Children, an education advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., applauded that city's former education chief for launching studentsfirst.org. CEO Jonah Edelman, who said his group has played a "key role" in education reform in seven states, welcomed Rhee's arrival on the national scene. "We think it is terrific that she is joining Stand and other education advocacy groups working to increase political activism and engagement to support students," Edelman said in a statement.