Carol Platt of the Osceola County Realtors ramped up her campaign for the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., on Tuesday. Platts camp announced formal campaign kickoffs throughout Central Florida toward the end of October.

U.S. Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., praised Gov. Rick Scott for raising concerns about privacy resulting from navigators enrolling Americans into President Barack Obamas federal health-care law.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., continued his push to defund President Barack Obamas federal health-care law on Tuesday. Rubio penned an opinion piece published at Townhall on Tuesday in which he argued the coming days will be the last chance to end the law.

A rally at EverBank Field on Monday afternoon to demand the Jacksonville Jaguars -- increasingly appearing to be the worst team in the National Football League -- sign former Florida Gator quarterback Tim Tebow drew few supporters. The event garnered national headlines but little respect from the sports media.

Despite this, Jags Tebow Why Not?" the group behind the rally, insists it has only begun its efforts.

On Monday, after the Washington Navy Yard shootings which left 13 dead, Gov. Rick Scott ordered flags across the Sunshine State lowered to half-staff until Friday.

In honor of the victims at the Washington Navy Yard, I hereby direct the flags of the United States and the state of Florida to be flown at half-staff at all local, state and federal buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the state of Florida, Scott wrote on Monday. The flags shall be lowered immediately and remain at half-staff until sunset on Sept. 20, 2013.

On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott took aim at President Barack Obamas signature federal health-care law in a letter sent to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Scott, who rose to political prominence in opposing the law, pointed to reports that Social Security numbers were compromised as administrators struggle to enact the law.

On Tuesday, former U.S. Rep. Allen West honored Constitution Day.

Former U.S. Rep. Allen West, who served in the U.S. Army for more than two decades and on the Armed Services Committee during his term in Congress, weighed in on the Washington Naval Yard shootings on Monday. West insisted a preliminary analysis indicates this was a targeted attack against U.S. Navy Sea Systems Command a planned assault. A favorite of the tea party movement, West has opened the door to a political comeback in 2016.

Higher education leaders from across the state have signed off on a letter urging members of the Florida congressional delegation to support immigration reform. The U.S. Senate passed an immigration reform bill at the end of June but the bill has made little progress in the U.S. House

Enterprise Florida (EFI) announced on Monday that Gov. Rick Scott will lead a trade mission to the Dominican Republic in late February. The Dominican Republic is Floridas ninth-leading trade partner with more than $5.5 billion in exports.