The U.S. House narrowly passed HR 4173, the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 today, and U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, is unimpressed. The member of the House Financial Services Committee said in a statement that the measure "codifies into law the principle of ''too big to fail' when it comes to troubled Wall Street financial firms and puts the American taxpayer on the hook for future bailouts.

The Florida Democratic Party is going after Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former House Speaker Marco Rubio for holding a huge fundraiser in New York hosted by hedge fund manager Paul Singer. Noting that the fundraiser took place the same night the U.S. House passed a financial services reform bill, the Democrats ripped into Rubio.

U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, the Republican nominee for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services, unveiled a new technology tactic on Thursday when he became the first candidate in Floridas history to use an iPhone application for campaigning. I am excited to announce the launch of iPutnam, an iPhone application that will allow me to stay connected with you throughout the course of the campaign, keeping you updated on where we are and what we are doing, all through your mobile device, said Putnam.

July 1-3 this year marks the 147th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg, the pivotal conflict in the Civil War. While the story has been told over and over again -- from the stand of the 20th Maine under Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain at Little Round Top, to Picketts Charge -- its easy to overlook the role of theFlorida Brigade, nominally under the command of Gen. Edward Perry, who went on to serve as governor in the 1880s.

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has triggered a rise in the number of changed travel plans arranged by eastern U.S. travelers considering visiting Florida's Gulf Coast in the next 12 months, a survey from popular travel resource AAA found Thursday.

Jack and Anne Rudloe, a husband and wife science team on Florida's Panhandle, wrote this week to tell of their preparations for the coming oil onslaught. Here's their report from the Gulf Speciment Marine Lab in Panacea, near St. George Island (warning -- it's not pretty): "Weve been working round the clock, day and night to buildout Operation Noahs Ark to retrofit Gulf Specimen Marine Lab against BP'soncoming oil disaster.

Former Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi scored a big endorsement in the battle for the Republican attorney general nomination on Thursday when she received the backing of the Associated Industries of Florida PAC. AIF chose Bondi over Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and former Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Holly Benson.

Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack weighed in on the Wall Street reform bill that passed the U.S. House yesterday and ripped into Democrats for abandoning free market principles. The Democratic Leadership continues to push so-called reform through Congress that does little more than trample all over the free market, said Mack. From health care to campaign finance, and now to the financial sector, the Democrats are charging ahead with bigger and more intrusive government.

Gov. Charlie Crist issued a short-but-sweet statement late Wednesday recognizing two PSC members he appointed to the commission in 2007, but who this week were ceremoniously left off the nominating council's second-term list.

The $25 million given to the state tourism industry by BP for a marketing campaign to combat negative press created by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is not enough, and Gov. Charlie Crist is asking for $50 million more. In a letter to BP America Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles, Crist said that the state has deployed all the BP tourism money.

The Florida Pipe Trades union backed independent Gov. Charlie Crist in the race for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday. The union represents 11 local chapters with more than 10,000 members. This was a blow for U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek who is seeking the Democratic nomination in the race and won the state AFL-CIO endorsement earlier in June. The campaign team for former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the leading Republican in the race, weighed in on the endorsement.

Already under pressure from former Leon County Democratic Chairman Rick Minor who is challenging her in the primary, Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel-Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, is now drawing fire from Republican opponent Ann Yarko. Yarko blasted the incumbent for proposing to raise taxes.

Republican Party of Florida Chairman John Thrasher had this to say following the release of discovery documents related to the criminal investigation of Jim Greer: When it came to light in March during the course of the annual RPOF audit that illegal activity may have taken place during the tenure of the former chairman, immediate action was taken and Bill McCollum acted decisively and appropriately in turning the information over to the statewide prosecutor.

With the financial reform bill about to come up to a vote in Congress, the campaign team for Republican congressional candidate Craig Miller is wondering why incumbent U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, a Democrat, is having a fund-raising dinner hosted by financial services professionals.

A "best ideas" forum will convene July 6 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. Sponsored by Space Florida, in partnership with regional economic development organizations, the forum will share "concepts for solutions to the economic issues impacting the region as a result of the end of NASAs Space Shuttle program," organizers said. Ideas compiled at the event will be submitted to the Federal Task Force on Space Industry Workforce and Economic Development. The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is free and open to the public.