Florida TaxWatch released an economic commentary on Tuesday showing holiday sales will be on the rise from last year but insisted online sales continue to hurt revenue.

"Florida's retail industry is alive and well, producing more jobs and bolstering state revenues, which enables our elected officials to fund necessary programs that benefit all Floridians," said Dominic Calabro, the president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch on Tuesday.

Jerry Parrish, the chief economist for Florida TaxWatch, said increased tourism will help Florida garner more revenue.

Phoenix VA Health Care System Director Sharon Helman was at the center of much of the firestorm that erupted after news emerged of altered waiting lists at VA medical centers across the nation. In Phoenix alone, at least 40 veterans on altered waitlists died while waiting for treatment.

On Monday, the VA announced Helman had been fired, bringing some applause from U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., the chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., a member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, urged President Barack Obama to quickly replace Chuck Hagel, who is on his way out as secretary of defense.

Gov. Rick Scott announced on Monday that Tim Cannon will lead the Florida Department of Corrections on an interim basis after Tim Crews resigned earlier in the day.

Sec. Crews has worked hard to make Florida communities safer, and we appreciate his service to the state, Scott said. Tim Cannon has served at the Department of Corrections for over two decades, and his experience will provide the Department with the leadership necessary for keeping families and our correctional officers safe.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, led eight other Republican congressmen from Florida -- Ander Crenshaw, Ron DeSantis, Richard Nugent, Tom Rooney, Dennis Ross, Steve Southerland, Dan Webster and Ted Yoho -- in writing the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday. The congressmen took aim at proposed carbon emissions rules included in the Clean Power Plan (CPP) which, they insist, will lead to higher costs for Floridians.

From her perch as chairwoman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., is not happy that talks with Iran on its nuclear program have been extended past the Monday deadline. Ros-Lehtinen called for Congress to impose new sanctions on Iran when Republicans take control of the Senate in January.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is calling on three Florida Republican congressmen -- Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan and John Mica -- to stand against increased wind subsidies. AFP is running ads in Florida newspapers urging the three congressmen to oppose these alternative energy subsidies.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton starts out 2016 as the favorite to win the Florida primary for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Gravis Marketing unveiled a new poll this past weekend showing Clinton claiming 51 percent of Florida Democrats. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., stands in distant second with 18 percent followed by Vice President Joe Biden with 12 percent. Two governors -- Martin OMalley of Maryland and Andrew Cuomo -- lag far behind. OMalley takes 4 percent and Cuomo 2 percent.

A poll released over the weekend shows former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is the favorite son of Florida Republicans to be president in 2016.

Gravis Marketing unveiled a poll on Sunday which shows Bush out front with 33 percent followed by fellow Florida Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio with 14 percent. Two Republican senators -- Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky -- are knotted up in third with 11 percent each.

A senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said he was saddened that U.S. Defense Sec. Chuck Hagel is leaving the Obama administration.

Chuck Hagel is a great patriot, Nelson said on Monday. And I believe he has been a very good secretary of defense. Im saddened that the White House was unable to keep him.