The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) named Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, as its Legislator of the Year in the House on Thursday for his work on sales tax holidays and e-fairness.

The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) named Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Brooksville, as its Legislator of the Year in the Senate on Thursday.

As a small-business owner himself, Sen. Simpson has distinguished himself with his understanding and commitment to issues important to Floridas retailers, said Rick McAllister, president and CEO of the FRF. Sen. Simpson is a tireless public servant who is willing and able to tackle big statewide problems while never losing sight of the needs of his constituents. We are very proud to recognize him for his leadership.

U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., took to the floor of Congress on Wednesday, insisting the measure would help improve national defense and help the First Coasts military community. Crenshaw said the following in his speech:

When you look at the world today, it certainly hasnt gotten any smaller. It certainly hasnt gotten any safer. But, I think this bill balances the priorities that we need to balance and focuses on being able to meet the many, many challenges that we face in terms of our national security.

Let's Get To Work, a group with ties to Gov. Rick Scott, looked to channel into the World Cup soccer tournament in a new radio ad contrasting their candidates record on jobs to former Gov. Charlie Crists, the favorite for the Democratic nomination to challenge the governor. On Thursday, Lets Get to Work released an ad in Spanish hitting Crist on jobs and playing up soccer themes.

The translation of the ad is as follows:

From his seat on the U.S. House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., pressed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray on federal loan regulations.

Now there is a 17 billion-dollar business out there in consumer loans and small dollar credit, Ross said. Operation Choke Point, if it were to eliminate due to reputational risk this particular supply, if you will, the demand will remain -- what will happen to those? What will happen to those consumers who need this particular market niche?"

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., called for Ahmed Abu Khatallah, the alleged mastermind behind the Benghazi attacks which killed four Americans including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, to be tried by military tribunal instead of in civilian court.

Opponents of Amendment 2, a medical marijuana proposal, looked to Colorado on Wednesday, insisting that the states relaxed marijuana laws have led to more children experimenting with the drug.

This is the sad reality that we are seeing in all states that have passed these measures, said Calvina Fay, the director of the Drug Free America Foundation which opposes Amendment 2. They use people who suffer with debilitating cancer or other conditions as a Trojan horse to pass these broad measures, and inevitably these powerful pot products end up in kids hands.

Count U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., as a supporter of President Barack Obamas decision to send 275 troops into Iraq to defend the American embassy.

Were sending an additional 275 troops to Baghdad to protect our embassy, Nelson said on Tuesday. Thats a good thing. Were going to send a carrier and an amphibious transport ship into the Persian Gulf in case we have to evacuate those Americans. And in the meantime, were going to try to work with our allies to stop the sectarian violence thats about to blow Iraq apart.

The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) took aim at former Gov. Charlie Crist with a new website urging him to publicly release his tax returns.

Earlier in the week, Gov. Rick Scott released three years of tax returns for 2010, 2011 and 2012. The website counts down time since the governor asked Crist to do the same.

Lets Get to Work, a group tied to Gov. Rick Scott, launched a new television ad on Wednesday. The new ad focuses on former Gov. Charlie Crist, the favorite for the Democratic nomination despite spending most of his political life as a Republican, accusing the former governor of raising tuition during his time as governor.