The Florida chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a conservative political advocacy group,has issued a statement responding to Thursday's meeting of the stateSenate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee, which discussed government transparency and reviewed presentations on two of the states current transparency websites.

The six Republicans and four Democrats sitting on the FloridaSenate Committee on Regulated Industries have unanimously approved a bill, filed by Sen.Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, whichcriminalizes engagement in a protest within 500 feet of the property line of any location where a funeral, burial, or memorial service is being held, and during or within one hour before or one hour after the conducting of such services.

The Florida Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling Thursday morning, in the case of Earth Trades Inc. v. T&G Corp.,clarifying that under a 2003 Florida statute, an unlicensed contractor cannot sue for breach of contract, even where they have been wronged and even when the party against whom they are seeking relief knew of their unlicensed status.

More to come ...

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., has released a statement calling on President Obama to authorize the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Earlier this week, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman approved a revised route for the pipeline to traverse his state.

U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., has issued a statement defending his Wednesday "no" vote against raising the nation's debt ceiling:

I gave my constituents in Florida my word that I would bring accountability to government. I stood by my word by voting against HR 325, which ultimately raises the debt ceiling. For that reason alone, I could not support it.

Freshman state Rep. Mike Clelland, D-Lake Mary, has filed two bills, aimed atproviding stronger public protections against corruption and legislative profiteering:

HB 381 wouldallow for more public involvement in filing valid complaints and expands the scope of the Commission on Ethics, while also protecting the privacy of those who the Commission finds are innocent of wrongdoing.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has released a statement on the National Human Trafficking Awareness Month Resolution presented during Wednesday morning's governor and Cabinet meeting:

As Florida's state representatives and senators continue to debate just how the Sunshine State will implement several provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, "Obamacare"), The James Madison Institute (JMI), a free-market think tank based in Tallahassee, today released its latest policy brief, "Floridas Best Medicaid Option Under the PPACA: Expand the Reforms, Not the Rolls."

As the Florida Senate Ethics and Elections Committee deliberated on a historic elections reform bill that would overhaul existing state employee ethics laws, a tweet from the League of Women Voters of Florida added some drama to the proceedings.

"Sen. Darren Soto expresses concern about revolving door issue at the FL Attorney General's office and asks for regulation," tweeted the League at 4:24 p.m. (EST).

The 13-member (eight Republican, five Democrat) Florida Senate Ethics and Elections Committee has just approved, by a unanimous vote, what chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, called the most sweeping electoral reform attempted by the Legislature in 36 years.