Several of the provisions of Florida's new law designed to shore up the state's unemployment compensation fund take effect Monday, including the mandatory Internet filing of claims, instead of in-person or over the phone.

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who is leading the tea party revolt against House Speaker John Boehner's debt-ceiling plan, is having his district threatened for going against the party leader, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott named Doug Darling to head up the newly formed Department of Economic Opportunity. He also named Cynthia Lorenzo, who had been interim director, to head up the Agency for Workforce Innovation. Mike Hansen was named to lead the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

With U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lashing out at the tea party over the continued stalemate in Washington about raising the debt ceiling, Florida Republican Congressman Connie Mack fired back on Thursday.

Senator McCain has lost his way again, Mack posted on Twitter. Hey Senator, we are Republicans and we are over here. Please join us.

With House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, facing term limits in 2012, a familiar face is well-positioned to replace him. Dr. Bob Brooks, who served three terms in the House during the 1990s and served as state health secretary, launched his campaign in late 2009 to run for this seat, which currently represents parts of Orange County -- though that can change, due to redistricting, in 2012. He has raised more than $47,000 so far, and more than $24,000 of that came in the second quarter of 2011. Brooks has also kept his powder dry, spending slightly more than $5,500 so far.

The Hill reports the U.S. House will vote on House Speaker John Boehner's debt-ceiling plan sometime between 5:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. EDT, well after U.S. markets close at 4 p.m.

With state Senate President Mike Haridopolos out of the race, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner is getting some backing from Republicans in the Legislature for his bid to win the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012. On Wednesday, Hasner announced he won the endorsements of both Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, and Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood.

On Wednesday, Republican National CommitteeChairman Reince Priebus weighed in on Floridas role in the 2012 elections as his organization rolled out a new television commercial and a Spanish language radio ad hitting the Sunshine State.

During a call with the media, Preibus called Florida a massively important battleground state for 2012 and dismissed suggestions that Gov. Rick Scotts continuing poor polling will impact the general election in 2012. The election is going to be all about Barack Obama, said Preibus.

After pulling defeat out of the jaws of victory in the Jacksonville mayoral race earlier in the year, Mike Hogan, who was the Republican candidate in the contest, was named by Gov. Rick Scott to the Public Employees Relations Commission. Hogan, a former state representative who served as Duval County tax collector before losing the mayoral race, takes the place of Stephanie Williams Ray as chairman of the commission and will serve until Jan. 1, 2012. Hogan lost to Alvin Brown -- the first Democrat to win a mayoral election in Jacksonville since Ed Austin won in 1991.

Florida Republican Congressman Tom Rooney is backing an idea to stop congressional salaries if the federal debt ceiling stalemate leads to a default.