The Florida House welcomed two new members on Tuesday as the 2014 legislative session opened.

Rep. Amanda Murphy, D-New Port Richey, gave a playful thanks to Gov. Rick Scott for appointing Mike Fasano to serve as Pasco County tax collector, allowing her the chance to win his open House seat.

The conservative Concerned Women Political Action Committee (CWPAC) announced on Monday it was lining up behind Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, in the Repubican primary to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel in Congress. Benacquisto will take on former state Rep. Paige Kreegel and businessman Curt Clawson in the April 22 primary.

With the 2014 legislative session kicking off on Tuesday, Lenny Curry, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), said on Monday there were major differences between the Republicans and Democrats in Tallahassee.

With the 2014 legislative session starting on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott will double down on cutting taxes and not raising tuition in Florida colleges and universities.

Scott is scheduled to give the State of the State address on Tuesday morning. The governors team unveiled parts of the speech on Monday which highlight Scotts call to reduce taxes and fees. Scotts proposal includes rolling back $400 million in state vehicle registration fees and cutting business rental taxes by $100 million.

Bill Young II announced on Monday he would run for the Republican nomination to challenge Florida Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg. Young contemplated running for the congressional seat left vacant by the death of his father, longtime U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., but decided against running in the special election.

Florida became a state on March 3, 1845. Its an interesting story and its bewildering to realize two grandsons of the president who presided over the event are still alive.

Besides being the day Florida entered the Union, March 3, 1845, was the last full day that John Tyler served as president. That was exactly 169 years ago, but despite all that time passing, two of Tylers grandchildren are still alive.

Appearing on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, weighed in on the increased tensions between Russia and the Ukraine. Rubio hammered the Putin regime as a government of liars. On Saturday, Politico published a piece from Rubio in which the Florida Republican lays out options on how President Barack Obama can respond to Russias actions in the Crimea.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., weighed in on Sunday to constituent concerns about the political instability in Venezuela. Rubio said he did not support American military action against the Venezuelan regime.

Tea party activists and conservatives will be descending on the Florida Capitol on Monday afternoon as the Florida chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP-FL) kicks off three days of lobbying legislators. AFP-FL is rallying behind Gov. Rick Scotts call for cutting $500 million in taxes and fees, backing public employee pension reform and fighting for more school choice options.

Former U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Fla., best known for being the Democratic candidate in the U.S. Senate race in 2010, endorsed Florida House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, for the Democratic nomination to challenge Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in November. Thurston is battling former DCF Secretary George Sheldon in the Democratic primary.