Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has been formally elected and sworn in as Florida Senate president by his fellow senators. In his speech, Haridopolos cited the need to work in a bipartisan fashion, despite the GOP's supermajority in the Senate. He said the chamber should focus on the legacy left to the next generation instead of partisan politics. "It's not about the TV, it's not about politics, it's about them (our children)," Haridopolos said.

Many have speculated on a third member of the Bush family making a run for president. While Jeb Bush has ruled out that possibility for 2012, some believe he's left the door open for 2016. But a new Rasmussen poll shows only one-third (35 percent) of likely U.S. voters believe its at least somewhat likely that Jeb Bush will run for president one day. That includes 10 percent who say it is very likely. On the other hand, almost half (43 percent) of those surveyed say it is unlikely the former Florida governor will make a run.

While the Republicans have dominated the opening ceremony of the 85th Florida House of Representatives -- no surprise, considering they have 81 of the 120 House seats -- the Democrats had their moment on Tuesday morning when Democratic House Leader Ron Saunders of Key West offered his opening address. Our state faces many challenges, said Saunders, noting the states high unemployment and continued mortgage crisis.

Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, was just sworn in as speaker pro tempore of the Florida House. Legg who represents part of Pasco County, chaired the PreK-12 Policy Committee. I am very humbled and honored, said Legg, before thanking House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, and his family. Legg called Cannon the captain of the ship. Then added, If hes the skipper, I must be Gilligan which is a little disconcerting. In a more serious vein, Leggnoted the state remains plagued by a troubled economy.

In his opening remarks, new House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, offered a conservative call-to-arms, attacking judicial activism. Cannon took aim at the Florida Supreme Court which struck down a number of proposed constitutional amendments forwarded by the Legislature, offering alternatives to amendments backed by FairDistricts Florida and allowing Floridians to opt out of the new federal health-care laws.

In his opening address, new House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, took aim at the economic policies backed by President Barack Obama. If someone had told those of us who were first elected in 2004 that by 2010 the federal government would be not only advocating but implementing the greatest expansion of government power since the New Deal, I would not have believed it, said Cannon. And yet, that is exactly what we have seen. Cannon ripped into policies backed by the Obama White House, including new federal health-care laws and stimulus and bailout bills.

On Tuesday morning the overwhelming Republican majority selected Rep. Dean Cannon of Winter Park to be speaker of the Florida House -- and the new speaker responded with a promise to fight for conservative values as he wields the gavel for the next two years.

While he is in line to become speaker after the 2012 elections, Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, is looking forward to handling one of the most challenging assignments in the House -- leading efforts to manage redistricting. Incoming Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Haven, on Monday designated Weatherford to head up the House Redistricting Committee. Rep. Perry Thurston of Plantation will be the ranking Democrat.

With an eye at running for the state Senate in 2012, Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, weighed in on being named to head up the Economic Affairs Committee. I am deeply honored to be called to lead this most important committee, said Hukill, who represents part of Volusia County, on Tuesday. Revitalizing Floridas economy is of the utmost importance and I look forward to working with my colleagues to fashion state policies that create jobs and foster economic growth.

Two weeks after losing the gubernatorial election to Republican Rick Scott, state CFO Alex Sink, the Democrat in the race, received a standing ovation from the House Democratic caucus and pledged she was not leaving the public stage. We all voted for you here, said Rep. Jim Waldman of Coconut Creek. Its a very challenging time in our state, said Sink who told the House Democrats that they would represent the 2.5 million voters who backed her. We need to hold people accountable every single day.

As the Senate readies for its special session on Tuesday, incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, named committee and subcommittee chairs.

Mike McCalister will be back in 2012. The retired Army colonel, best known for his bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination earlier in the year, has a website set up for a bid for the U.S. Senate election in 2012. McCalister, who lives in Plant City and teaches MBA courses at Everglades University, is best known for his surprising showing in the primary -- taking more than 10 percent of the vote against Rick Scott and Attorney General Bill McCollum.

The Florida chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, along with a number of news organizations and First Amendment advocates, issued letters Monday to Florida Chief Justice Charles P. Canady and Chief Judge Donald R. Moran of Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit, pushing for them to guarantee transparency and openness during foreclosure proceedings.

Incoming Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, announced Monday that two bills targeted for veto overrides during Tuesday's special session have been taken off the schedule: HB 5611, which would move oversight of the Department of Management Services from the governor to the full Cabinet, and HB 5603, which would provide new measures to reduce workers' compensation prescription medication costs.

Buried in an article by Mike Hall in the Topeka Capital-Journal on Bob Doles recovery from knee surgery is this little nugget:From his hospital room, he was active in supporting several conservative candidates he believed in, including Charles Crist, who ran for a U.S. Senate seat from Florida as an independent. Dole told one reporter he extracted a promise that Crist would vote for Republican control of the Senate if elected.