Bob Rohrlack, the president and CEO of the Tampa Chamber, offered a reminder to the three congressional candidates running for an open congressional seat in Pinellas County on Monday morning about the importance of MacDill Air Force Base to the local economy. Former state CFO Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate, takes on Republican David Jolly and Libertarian Lucas Overby in the March 11 special election.

With little more than two weeks to go in the Pinellas County special election for an open congressional seat, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) launched a new television commercial on Monday, contrasting Republican David Jolly and former state CFO Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate, on President Barack Obamas federal health-care law and the need for a federal balanced budget amendment.

A national poll released this weekend shows American adults continue to believe public schools are not doing enough to discipline students. A Rasmussen Reports poll unveiled Sunday shows 78 percent of American adults believe its tougher for teachers to maintain discipline in the classroom compared to the past while 62 percent of those surveyed believe public schools are too easy on discipline. Only 5 percent think public schools are too tough on discipline while 19 percent think its about right.

Late last week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., released a video responding to President Barack Obamas plans to cut Medicare Advantage (MA) and use those funds for the federal health-care program.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar Association are teaming up to back a bill ensuring high school students in the Sunshine State are required to take a financial literacy course, nicknamed The Money Course, before graduating. More than 40 legislators are behind legislation which would require the course with Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, leading the charge in the Senate while Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers, and Rep. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah, back it in the House.

Already facing criticism over their crackdown on protesters demanding more democratic reforms, the Venezuelan government kicked CNN and CNN en Espal out of the nation. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the Venezuelan regime on Friday.

Gov. Rick Scott said on Thursday that he was pleased that state House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, said earlier in the day that reducing fees was on his legislative agenda. One of Scotts main priorities in the upcoming legislative session is cutting $400 million in vehicle registration fees enacted back in 2009.

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott said online jobs are booming in Florida. Scott cited Help Wanted OnLine numbers showing more than 282,000 job openings in Florida last month, an increase of 5.1 percent from January 2013.

Veteran Brian Gibens announced on Thursday that he was ending his bid for the Republican nomination to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., in Congress and was endorsing Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacusito, R-Fort Myers, in the primary next month.

In Tallahassee on Thursday, Florida House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, and his leadership team unveiled their legislative agenda for the 2014 session.

As Democratic leaders, we will continue to fight for an effective and efficient government that works for the middle class, said Thurston. We strive for a state government that makes investments in public education, health care, and infrastructure so Florida can attract jobs and build an economy for the future.