Outgoing U.S. Sen. George LeMieux will be the keynote speaker at the Christian Family Coalition's "2010 Victory Gala" in Miami on Dec. 3. LeMieux, whose interim term expires in January, is believed to be an early contender for Sen. Bill Nelson's seat in 2012. LeMieux is a Fort Lauderdale attorney and former chief of staff for Gov. Charlie Crist. The CFC event, which will also feature a performance by gospel artist Abigail McDonald, will honor legislative candidates with the group's "2010 Friend of the Family Awards" for their pro-life voting records.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota used the opportunity of the Republican Governors Association meeting in San Diego last week to publish an essay in the San Diego Union-Tribune calling for the repeal of new federal health-care laws backed by President Barack Obama -- and to call attention to his own possible bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

Quinnipiac University released a poll on Monday that stated that more Americans do not think President Barack Obama deserves a second term than those who back his bid for re-election--but also found voters remain wary on potential Republican candidates. The poll found 49 percent of Americans wanting Obama out of the White House after 2012 while 43 percent want to give him a second term.

Feeling heat from voters and even fellow judges, 1st District Court of Appeal Judge Paul Hawkes has stepped down as chief of the court. His move comes amid continuing controversy over the new $48 million "Taj Mahal" courthouse in Tallahassee. Hawkes did not resign from the court and wouldn't discuss his reason for stepping down as chief judge, but his resignation offered at an emergency conference Friday was clearly a defensive move.

Along with the Sunshine State News story about Florida's high-school graduation rates, state Sen. Mike Haridopolos is looking for improvements. Education officials hailed the 79 percent grad rate, a 2.5 percent increase over last year and the fifth straight annual gain. But Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, noted that more could and should be done. He welcomes your suggestions at Haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov

Having already suspended Keith Olberman for making contributions to political candidates, MSNBC has now apparently suspended former U.S. Rep. Joe Scarborough for sending money to political campaigns. Politco reports the former Panhandle congressman-turned-pundit was suspended for backing, among other, two old supporters in the Legislature -- Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, and his son Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Shalimar.

With news breaking this week that a large part of the federal contracts to deal with the Gulf oil spill went to companies based in Massachusetts, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson sent off a letter demanding answers to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke as to why states impacted by the spill -- like Florida -- were left out.

While there was talk that South Floridas own U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz would win the prize, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named U.S. Rep. Steve Israel of New York to head up the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Congressman Israel knows how to win in tough districts. said Pelosi. He replaced a formidable Republican incumbent in 2000 and has worked every day since then to strengthen Democrats across the country.

Outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist pledged to do his best to help a speedy and painless transition when Rick Scott takes over as governor in January.

According to a release from the Republican Party of Florida, Sen. Bill Nelson is "suddenly lashing out at President Obama" after historically supporting him. Nelson voted for the stimulus, health-care bill, and many other policies in line with President Obama's agenda. Via Politico, Nelson told colleagues that "Obama's unpopularity has become a serious liability" for Democrats in his state, and blamed the president for creating a toxic political environment. Sen. Nelson declined a response when the RPOF called asking for his statements.

On Friday, Rick Scott released the names of those appointed to his Inaugural Committee:

In a release sent Nov. 19 from CFO Alex Sink, she said that on Wednesday she asked state employees to sign up to receive their W-2 forms electronically. She said it will "save Florida taxpayers $75,000 anually if all state employees participated." In addition, the employees would get earlier access to the form. Sink said she's always looking for ways to "save money and improve efficiency for the state," and then she reaffirmed that using the electronic version of the employees' W-2 forms is a way to be more cost-effective.

Thursday's Florida Supreme Court validation of certificates of participation for the U.S. Sugar Corp.-Everglades restoration deal had to feel like a hollow victory for Gov. Charlie Crist. Three project downsizings thanks to an economy gone sour, empty pockets to begin any real restoration and little hope of exercising the option to buy more land in three years -- and now his term as Florida governor about to end. It is a hoped-for legacy lost.

With the deadline coming up for veterans and current members of the armed services -- whose time in the military was involuntary extended between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2009 -- to file for additional benefits, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis is encouraging them to contact the U.S. Department of Defense. Vets and service members may be eligible for up to $500 for each month of their military extension.

Floridas nurse practitioners are gearing up to push for increased authority in the Sunshine State -- arguing that the state can save $1 billion if this happens. Stan Whittaker of the Florida Council of Advanced Practice Nurses PAC (CAP-PAC) weighed in on the matter, pointing to a report from the Institute of Medicine that found that giving Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) more authority lowers costs.