On Tuesday, U.S Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., joined co-sponsors of a bill to create a commission of scientists and advocates which will examine strategies to prevent breast cancer without using new federal monies. There are more than 150 other co-sponsors in the House.

If there are any doubts that former Gov. Charlie Crist intends to run for governor in 2014, the announcement this week that a book he wrote -- "The Party's Over: How the Extreme Right Hijacked the GOP and I Became a Democrat" -- should end them. The book is being released in early February, right in time for Crist to begin his gubernatorial campaign. Dutton, the publisher, is promising a no-holds-barred memoir in which Crist shows why he switched sides and became a Democrat.

Former state Rep. Shawn Harrison filed to take on Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa, at the end of April, hoping for a rematch of their contest in 2012. In the first two months of his campaign, Harrison did a solid job in bringing in funds, raising $17,545 and spending a little more than $700. Danish only raised $6,000 in the second quarter of 2013 though he was prohibited from raising money when the Legislature was in session. During the second quarter, Danish relied on $500 of in-kind donations and spent almost $2,200.

As the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Eastern and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., teamed up with Maryland Democrat U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, the chairman of the subcommittee, to release a joint statement on the start of thefifth U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue which is being held in Washington. The statement was released on Tuesday morning:

On Tuesday, U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus presented U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., with the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award which is the highest honor the Navy can give a civilian who does not work for the Department of the Navy.

On Wednesday, the U.S. House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee will grapple with the fiscal year 2014 Financial Services Bill.

Money is flowing into the Big Bend region where one of the most competitive congressional races in Florida is shaping up.

This week, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., took aim at President Barack Obama and his signature legislation in a message to constituents. Miller ripped Obamas federal health-care law as far more expensive than was anticipated and is a nightmare to comply with.

Miller pointed to the administration delaying enacting a mandate on employers as proof that the law is not working and insisted it was expensive.

Reports came out on Monday that there were more Americans on food stamps and other taxpayer-funded food assistance programs (101 million) than were employed in the private sector (97.2 million). Former Congressman Allen West, a favorite of the tea party movement, pointed the blame at President Barack Obama when he posted on Facebook late Monday.

Republicans have to increasingly like their chances of taking down Rep. Carl Zimmerman, D-Dunedin, in 2014.

Zimmerman, who represents parts of Pinellas County, defeated Republican incumbent Peter Nehr in 2012 after two previous bids. Nehr faced a contested primary and his chances werent helped when news broke that the Republican House member took risque photos of himself.