A Bureau of Labor Statistics report out today shows that nonfarm payrolls added 117,000 jobs in July, but it barely put a dent in the national unemployment rate, which came in at 9.1 percent, or 0.1 percent lower than June's number.

A poll released by Quinnipiac University on Friday revealed that Gov. Rick Scotts job approval was on the rebound, though a majority of Florida voters remained disapproving of his performance.

Back in a poll released by Quinnipiac in May, Scott stood with 29 percent approval while 57 percent disapproved of the Republican governor. He did better in the new poll, with 35 percent approving of his performance while 52 percent disapproved.

On Thursday, the American Conservative Union (ACU) announced that former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, will speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) event held in Orlando on Sept. 23.

Huntsman, who has based his campaign in Orlando, has already committed to taking part in a straw poll held by the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) during their Presidency 5 event which will occur in Orlando at the same time as the CPAC meeting.

Some of the races for Florida House seats in 2012 have gotten more interesting in recent days.

On Thursday, state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said that the Florida Energy Summit, which will replace the Farm to Fuel event, will be held in October in Orlando.

Robin Wescott, Florida's newly-appointed insurance consumer advocate, is calling for a thorough review of a request by Citizens Property Insurance to raise sinkhole coverage premiums by 429 percent statewide; and even if the increase is warranted, to slowly implement it.

Wescott wrote letters Wednesday to Office of Insurance Regulation Commissioner Kevin McCarty and Citizens' executive director Scott Wallace, urging an "incremental" approach to the proposed rate increase.

The Republican National Committee wants to wish President Barack Obama a happy birthday (he turns 50 today), but also remind him of his sagging poll numbers in Florida released today.

Obama's approval rating is 44 percent in Florida, with 50 percent disapproving of his performance, according to a Quinnipac survey taken before the debt deal was announced. After the deal, his disapproval rating ticked up to 51 percent.

Hayden Dempsey, an adviser to Gov. Rick Scott on legislative affairs and policy development, is leaving the governor's office to join the board of Enterprise Florida.
Dempsey submitted a resignation letter to the governor, and is effective Aug. 12. Jon Costello, who currently serves as Scott's legislative affairs director, will take over Dempsey's role.

On Wednesday, Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Wellington, was named as a deputy majority leader in the Florida Senate.

Benacquisto, who represents parts of Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties, was elected to the Senate in 2010. Shell serve under Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and in the leadership with two fellow freshmen who are whips -- Anitere Flores of Miami and David Simmons of Maitland.

On Wednesday, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, running in the Republican primary to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, announced that he had signed the pledge backed by Americans for Tax Reform to oppose tax increases. Americans for Tax Reform is led by conservative activist Grover Norquist who has been on center stage during the recent debate on the federal debt ceiling.