U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., announced on Monday they were backing Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto in the special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., in Congress.

Washington is broken and this president has no interest in fixing it, Diaz-Balart said. Lizbeths fighting spirit and proven ability to get things done are just what we need to get things moving for hard-working Florida families.

Appearing on Fox Business Network (FBN) on Monday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., weighed in on tax reform, went after the Democrats and said Russia should be expelled from the G8.

FBNs Rich Edson asked Rubio his thoughts on the tax reform plan from U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich. While Rubio said he was leaning against backing Camps plan, he did say he was crafting his own tax reform plan with U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

At a media event in Orlando on Monday, Gov. Rick Scott showcased his proposal for $80 million in the state budget to be used for cancer research, including sending $60 million to Florida Cancer Centers as they seek National Cancer Institute (NCI) status

A poll from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to prominent Democrats, shows a tight race in Tuesday's special election for the congressional seat left open by the death of U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., as the contest is within the margin of error. The poll was commissioned by the League of Conservation Voters' Victory Fund which is backingformer state CFO Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate in the race,

The various campaigns and the pundits are expecting a close contest in Tuesdays special election for the congressional seat left open by the death of longtime U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla. With that being the case, Republicans backing David Jolly are starting to worry about Libertarian Lucas Overby who has polled consistently in the mid-single digits and has cracked double digits in some polls.

Gov. Rick Scott, U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., and Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown reached across party lines to showcase the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) project at the Dames Point Marine Terminal, part of the JaxPort system. The new system will allow quicker cargo transfer and is estimated to create more than 340 construction jobs and lead to hundreds of jobs in the future. The project relies on both federal and state funding.

The Florida chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) launched Small Business Days on Monday. The NFIBs program includes a reception at the governors mansion with Gov. Rick Scott.

Bill Herrle, the executive director of the Florida chapter of the NFIB, praised Scott on Monday, saying the governor was good for small businesses. Herrle also expressed support for Scotts call to cut business retail taxes by $100 million which is one of the governors chief goals for the current legislative session.

Gov. Rick Scotts campaign team weighed in on President Barack Obama vacationing in Florida over the weekend and former Gov. Charlie Crist appearing in Washington to speak at the annual Gridiron Club dinner. Despite spending most of his political life as a Republican, Crist is the favorite for the Democratic nomination to challenge Scott in November.

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., who was accused by his wife of a domestic violence incident, was cleared of the charge by the Orange County sheriff's office. Earlier in the week, Lolita Grayson, the congressmans wife of 24 years who is currently engaged in a divorce battle with him, was granted a temporary injunction against the congressman. Grayson responded by showing video of his wife attacking him.

On Friday, the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) and the Consumer Energy Alliance submitted almost 24,300 signatures from Florida to federal officials in support of the Keystone XL Pipeline.