From his perch on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., applauded the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for raising the Medicare Advantage reimbursement rate from 0.9 percent to 1.25 percent next year.

Americans for Prosperity's (AFP) Florida chapter offered support to Gov. Rick Scott after he expressed major hesitation in accepting federal funds to expand Medicaid.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam showcased the fight against the illegal growing of marijuana on Tuesday, noting that last year saw more than 31,500 plants seized and more than 500 people arrested. The state is part of the Domestic Marijuana Eradication Program, along with the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency, other states and various local law enforcement agencies across the nation.

Gov. Rick Scott, R-Fla., offered some caution on whether Florida should accept federal funds for Medicaid expansion on Monday and the Obama administration offered a response.

Jimmy Buffett is ready to rock the Florida Capitol this week, where he'll be playing as part of a rally to save the Florida Everglades. Buffett, who is perhaps best known for his hits "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise," will play an acoustic set Tuesday morning. The rally will be sponsored by the Everglades Coalition as part of Everglades Day, where environmentalists will head to the Capitol to push efforts to save the Everglades. The rally will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Old Capitol.

Dr. Bob McClure, the president and CEO of the James Madison Institute (JMI), a group which fights for free-market solutions and economic opportunity, offered his take on the debate in the Florida Legislature over whether to accept federal dollars to expand Medicaid.

On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott, R-Fla., waded into the growing battle between the two chambers of the Florida Legislature over the budget and Medicaid expansion. Scott signaled that he was closer to the House side, expressing some hesitation on Medicaid expansion, including expanding the low-income pool (LIP).

Marijuana legalization advocates from across the nation cheered a Quinnipiac poll that shows Floridians remain staunchly behind medical marijuana and a majority of voters in the Sunshine State back legalization for recreational use.

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., will be a top target for Republicans in 2016 as they look to knock off the congressional freshman. But Graham put together an impressive first quarter of 2015 fundraising effort, announcing on Monday she had brought in more than $525,000 and had around $480,000 in the bank.

President Barack Obama could have a tough time selling his deal with Iran over that nations nuclear ambitions to fellow Democrats representing South Florida in Congress. U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., who sits on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, reacted to Thursdays deal with caution.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who sits on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, came out swinging against President Barack Obamas deal with Iran over its nuclear program. Rubio labeled the deal as a diplomatic failure and slammed the administrations farcical approach to Iran and in the Middle East.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., named Josh Wolf as the campaign manager for his U.S. Senate bid while Mandi Karp, who worked with him in 2014, will be his finance director. Wolf led former Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossmans failed bid for the Democratic gubernatorial election last year and managed U.S. Rep. Ami Beras, D-Calif., campaign in 2012. Karp helped Murphy raise more than $5.3 million last year when he defeated former state Rep. Carl Domino.

A bill that would allow private adoption agencies to refuse placing children in gay families passed through the Florida House Judiciary Committee on Thursday. HB 7111, sponsored by Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, would prohibit certain entities from withholding grants, contracts, or participation in government programs from a private child-placing agency based on the agency's refusal to place a child or be involved in the placement of a child which violates the agency's religious or moral convictions or policies.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has launched its latest effort to ensure the state government continues their gaming compact. On Thursday, the Seminole Tribe unveiled a new radio ad which will be running across the Sunshine State. The tribe also launched a new TV ad on the matter.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., declared for the U.S. Senate last Monday -- and he certainly made the most of his time for the new campaign. On Thursday, Murphy announced he had raised $1.25 million during the quarter, including $750,000 since launching his Senate bid. At the end of March, Murphy had $1.6 million in the bank.