U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., continues to showcase his opposition to the federal budget deal crafted by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.

Rubio appeared on Megyn Kellys show on Fox News on Wednesday and slammed the deal, saying it will only increase federal spending.

The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) has been focusing on attacking former Gov. Charlie Crist -- the favorite for the Democratic nomination to challenge Gov. Rick Scott next year despite spending most of his political career as a Republican -- on President Barack Obamas federal health-care law. Thursday proved no different as Lenny Curry, the chairman of the RPOF, hit Crist on Obamacare.

U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., said on Wednesday he would support the budget agreement reached by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, Wis.Crenshaw, the chairman of the House Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, said the agreement would help reduce the deficit.

Ed Moore, the president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF), was named to the Irish Education 100, a group that honors Irish-American educators. Moore will be recognized at an event in New York City next week.

I am extremely honored to be included among the top education leaders nominated for the 2013 Irish Education 100, said Moore on Wednesday. This distinction pays tribute to both my Irish heritage and my unwavering passion for working toward success for students in Floridas independent institutions of higher learning.

On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott said Department of Children and Families (DCF) Interim Secretary Esther Jacobo will stay at her post until at least the end of the 2014 legislative session.

The U.S. House voted on Tuesday to pass a bill consolidating federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility leases, including in Pasco County. The bill won the support of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., the vice chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

Pope Francis was named Time Magazines "Person of the Year on Wednesday and a new poll finds Americans have a good opinion of him.

Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, continues to push her bill to create a poet laureate for Florida. On Wednesday, Hukills bill unanimously passed the Government Oversight and Accountability Committee.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., is backing the federal budget deal crafted by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., but he is offering some words of concern. The deal was announced late on Tuesday.

We now have what amounts to be a major bipartisan budget deal, considering the gridlock that has gripped Congress in recent years, Nelson said. No one will love everything in this agreement. But we all should be able to compromise to get something done for the good of the country.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry testified before the U.S. House on Tuesday and drew heat from Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the chairwoman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, after President Barack Obama shook the hand of communist Cuban tyrant Raul Castro.

Mr. Secretary, sometimes a handshake is just a handshake, Ros-Lehtinen said. But when the leader of the free world shakes the bloody hand of a ruthless dictator like Raul Castro, it becomes a propaganda coup for the tyrant.