While enough Republicans voted to end the 16-day federal shutdown and raise the debt ceiling, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., ripped the agreement and voted against it.

I am deeply disappointed with the agreement crafted by the Senate, Miller said late Wednesday. I cannot in good conscience support this deal because it does absolutely nothing to reduce the almost incomprehensible debt this government continues to accumulate. This bill simply kicks the can down the road even further and maintains the unsustainable fiscal path toward a debt-induced collapse.

Speaking at the American Association of Port Authoritys annual convention in Orlando on Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott announced he would push a measure to invest almost $35 million more into projects in the next legislative session.

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, weighed in on Tuesday on the ongoing negotiations with Iran over that countrys nuclear program. Ros-Lehtinen insisted Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani cannot be trusted and warned the Obama administration not to back off on sanctions.

After his showing in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas moved to Florida. Hes remained somewhat active in the Sunshine State, campaigning for Republicans in the 2010 and 2012 election cycles.

Huckabee talked to CBNs David Brody and, in an interview released on Tuesday, said he was open to a second presidential bid in 2016.

The Campaign for Liberty, which is chaired by former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, has launched petitions opposing raising the federal debt ceiling. John Tate, the president of the Campaign for Liberty, sent out an email to supporters on Tuesday night urging them to stand against raising the debt ceiling, insisting this was the best opportunity in years to force Congress to cut spending and finally balance our out-of-control federal budget.

Former Gov. Charlie Crist is turning to Jessica Clark, a fundraiser who helped the Obama campaigns in Florida, as he gears up to run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Alexander Burns over at Politico has the details as Crist looks to build a war chest to take on Gov. Rick Scott.

The Democrats picked up a seat in the Florida House on Tuesday as Amanda Murphy, a vice president with Raymond James, defeated Republican Bill Gunter, a pastor, in a close contest for the open seat representing parts of Pasco County.

The seat had been filled by Rep. Mike Fasano who was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to be Pasco County tax collector. Despite being a Republican, Fasano endorsed Murphy over Gunter.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce (in full disclosure, my former employer) released a poll on Tuesday which confirms a poll released last week by the University of North Florida (UNF) that Gov. Rick Scott is making up on ground on former Gov. Charlie Crist, the favorite for the Democratic nomination.

Sunshine State News is hitting the radio airwaves on Tuesday from 3:00-3:30 p.m. Your humble blogger will be on the Ed Dean radio show, which is hosted by one of the most feisty, informative and entertaining conservatives in Florida. It can be heard onlinehereand on two stations in Central Florida -- 89.3 on the west coast and 90.3 on the Atlantic coast.

Conservative Intel commissioned Harper Polling to look at Wednesdays special election for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey and the poll finds Newark Mayor Cory Booker, the Democratic candidate, in excellent shape to expand the Democratic majority in the Senate.

The poll of likely voters finds Booker taking 52 percent while former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, the Republican in the race, garners 41 percent. Other recent polls have shown similar results. Despite these polls, the Lonegan camp insists their campaign polls show a much closer contest.