With the U.S. House of Representatives having passed a measure in September offering tax breaks for companies producing fuels based on algae, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said on Friday that he would reintroduce the corresponding piece of legislation for the Senate and expressed optimism that the measure would be law by the end of the year.

Republican attorney general candidate Pam Bondi announced on Friday that she was receiving the endorsement of 10 more current and former sheriffs -- raising her total to 35. Bondis new backers include Sheriff John Rutherford of Duval County and two former sheriffs now serving in the Senate -- Charlie Dean and Steve Oelrich.

Jon Ausman, a member of the Democratic National Committee, sees no path to victory for either Democrat Kendrick Meek or independent Gov. Charlie Crist in their race for U.S. Senate. Both are currently way behind Republican Marco Rubio in the polls. In order to prevent the most conservative candidate from taking the seat, Ausman wants one of the others to drop out of the race. His ideal solution would be for former Gov. Bob Graham to negotiate either Crist's or Meek's exit from the race.

Just in time for the Rangers taking on the Yankees on Friday night, Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, has launched a new commercial -- playing up his background as a little league umpire. Hudson has a unique district, as he often admits on the House floor and in committee meetings. It touches both coasts and covers parts of Broward and Collier counties. But Hudson does not have a Democratic opponent in November with just Larry Wilcoxon, a candidate with no party affiliation, running to oppose him. Hudson should be safe at home but the commercial could be his attempt to cover his bases.

Florida's stone crab season opened today, meaning those delicious crab claws will soon be back in seafood markets and restaurants across the state. The season, which runs through mid-May, also means an economic shot in the arm for Florida's fish industry. Ranking second behind shrimp, Florida's stone crab harvest was worth close to $18 million last season. The majority are harvested off the southern tip of the peninsula from Sarasota to Fort Lauderdale. In 2009, the top three stone crab-harvesting counties were Monroe, Collier and Citrus.

Terry Jones, the Gainesville pastor who inflamed tensions abroad and in the U.S. recently with his threat to burn the Quran, is getting a new car for his troubles. After much deliberation and pleading from U.S. government and military officials, who said that the stunt would endanger troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Jones recanted. During the controversy, however, a New Jersey car dealer pulled a stunt of his own, saying in a television ad that he would give Jones a car if he opted not to burn Islam's holy book.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott offered high praise for a federal judge who allowed Attorney General Bill McCollums challenge to new federal health-care laws to continue. As someone who led the fight against both Obamacare and Hillarycare, I applaud the judges decision to send this lawsuit to trial. Obamacare is an unconstitutional overreach by the federal government and Im hopeful that the courts will recognize this and put an end to this travesty, said Scott who defeated McCollum in the Republican primary.

Bill OReilly from Fox News was on ABCs The View on Thursday -- and fireworks went off as two of the hosts stormed off the set after he said that a mosque being built near the site of Ground Zero in New York should not be built. Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar left after disagreeing with the talk-show host over the mosque.

Pam Bondi, the Republican candidate for attorney general, offered warm praise to a federal judge for allowing Attorney General Bill McCollums lawsuit against the federal government over new health-care laws to proceed.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek took issue with a federal judge who let a legal challenge proceed that was launched by Attorney General Bill McCollum to new federal health-care laws.

Republicans weighed in on Thursday afternoon on a federal judge allowing Attorney General Bill McCollums lawsuit against the federal government over new federal health-care laws backed by President Barack Obama to move forward. Former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the Republican candidate in the U.S. Senate race, praised the decision.

FairDistricts has tapped the deep pockets of another big-spending liberal, landing a $200,000 contribution from Fred Eychaner, a Chicagoland media mogul who also funded ACORN and President Obama. Eychaner, who has given millions to the national Democratic Party, extended his left-wing largesse with late support for FairDistricts' Amendment 5/Amendment 6 campaign. Those measures on the fall ballot have collected more than $4 million in contributions from trial lawyers, unions and other Democratic Party loyalists.

Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, one of the first members of Congress to demand the repeal of President Barack Obama's new health-care laws, cheered a federal judges decision to let a constitutional challenge to those measures, launched by Attorney General McCollum, stand.

Attorney General Bill McCollum cheered the decision by U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson that the suit McCollum launched against the federal government for President Barack Obama's new health-care laws can proceed. This ruling is a victory for the states, small businesses and the American people, said McCollum. It is the first step to having the individual mandate declared unconstitutional and upholding state sovereignty in our federal system, and means this case will go forward to the summary judgment hearing that the court has set for Dec. 16.

U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson ruled that Florida's lawsuit against the federal government's health-care law can proceed. Today's ruling was quickly applauded by incoming state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, who said in a statement: "Im confident, now that Judge Vinson has cleared the lawsuit to go forward, that Florida will prevail on the merits of this case. I realize the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately decide the outcome, but todays ruling is a positive first step forward."