Senate lawmakers just voted to make Florida the 20th state to demand a balanced federal budget and limit federal restrictions on state spending, with opposition from Democrats. The concurrent resolution, proposed by Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, calls for the state jto oin 19 others in demanding a Balanced Budget Amendment to the federal Constitution. But leading Senate Democrats say the measure is too simplistic and could prevent future federal help.

Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, defended his slip and fall legislation today on the House floor.

As he presided over the Florida House this afternoon, Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, grew increasingly frustrated by the constant chatter of the representatives. Cretul twice asked the House members to quiet down before actually interrupting the presentation of an amendment to take charge of the House. Im having a hard time hearing the clerk, he said. Please indulge an old guy who cant hear.

Recent testimony that Florida will have problems supplying enough water to satisfy the needs of its 18 million residents provided talking points to supporters of Amendment 4. Despite receiving more than 54 inches of rain per year, Florida is facing chronic water shortages, experts told the Senate Select Committee on Florida's Inland Waters.

Sens. Ronda Storms and Thad Altman battled the Florida Education Association on SB 2126. The bill seeks to allocate funds to help low-income families to give students a scholarship move to private schools. The funds in the bill are from corporate taxes. Florida companies can commit money to low-income scholarships that give disadvantaged families access to some of Florida's best private schools. But Lynda Russell, from the FEA, says the money shouldn't be appropriated and children, and support, shouldn't be drawn away from public schools.

Calling himself a very conservative Democrat and Bob Graham and Lawton Chiles his "political heroes,"former Rep. Rick Minton is revving up his bid to become the states next Agricultural and Consumer Services commissioner. Speaking this morning, Minton listed the numerous responsibilities of the Agriculture post including land trust, water policy, determining who qualified for unemployment benefits.

The Florida First Amendment Foundation luncheon today attracted a healthy turnout of political leaders and journalists. Notably absent: Gov. Charlie Crist, who is a two-time winner of the foundation's Pete Weitzel Friend of the First Amendment Award, and Attorney General Bill McCollum. Keynote speakers were Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, and CFO Alex Sink, a Democrat, both of whom are candidates for governor. Most members of the House and Senate leadership were in attendance.

Sen. George LeMieux broke ranks with Gov. Charlie Crist, saying he would not have voted for the Stimulus package, "now that we see how little of that money has stimulated the economy." In John Kerry-esque fashion, the man Crist appointed to fill Mel Martinez's seat said he was for the Stimulus before he was against it.

Former Republican candidate and Tea Party darling Sarah Palin will be speaking at the private Orange County Lincoln Day Dinner tonight, and the Chairman of the Florida Federation of Teenage Republicans, Jacob Engels, will be Tweeting from the dinner. The event is off-limits to the press, but we will be retweeting Engels' tweets live at our Twitter account, SSNAlerts, starting at 6 p.m. You can also follow Jacob at his Twitter feed, JacobEngels.

Shhhh! Don't tell anyone, but Marco Rubio may be soft on illegal immigration. While presenting himself as a rock-ribbed Republican conservative, the U.S. Senate candidate has a checkered past on border control.

Locked in a bitter battle with Marco Rubio for the GOP nod for the U.S. Senate, Gov. Charlie Crist is bringing out former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack to vouch for him. In a fundraising letter for the Crist campaign, Mack stressed Crists conservative credentials. Mack labeled Crist a common sense conservative and said that the governor is a reliable conservative on crime, guns and abortion. Mack said that Crist passed the biggest tax cut in Florida history and cut $7 billion in state spending during his term as governor.

Ask any Florida fisherman what he thinks about the federal ban on snapper, and you'll get an earful. Now Attorney General Bill McCollum is roiling the waters with a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

This just in from the House Majority Office: Legislation moved through committee Wednesday designed to improve the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists; prevent crashes; reduce the financial impact of injuries, death, and property damage -- all caused by texting while driving; and authorize law enforcement to issue citations as a secondary offense. I am thrilled that this issue is finally getting the attention it deserves, said Rep. Doug Holder R-Sarasota, sponsor of the bill. We must send a message that Floridas roads are safe to travel.

Even with an influx of Medicaid money headed Florida's way thanks to the U.S. Senate, Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, plans to continue building the budget as if the new federal funds were not coming.

The Florida Senate Pre K-12 Education Committee advanced two bold education reform measures today. SB 4 and SB 6. SB 4, sponsored by Committee Chairwoman Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, focuses on increasing standards for hight school students, particularly in Math and Science. Detert says they're hoping these reforms will prevent dropouts and provide and educated workforce that will bring employers to the Sunshine State. "With this legislation today, Florida students will be prepared for the competitive workforce of the 21st Century economy," she said.