Jon Ausman, still reeling from his recent suspension as a state committee member of the Florida Democratic Party, called on state party leaders to institute a statewide code of ethics, which he says is missing from the party.

Ausman, who was suspended by Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith last week for his actions during the 2010 election cycle, which allegedly included taking money to endorse U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene, said the ethics rules cited against him were "selectively enforced."

With hurricane season upon the Sunshine State, Florida Republican U.S. House Rep. Gus Bilirakis, from his perch as chairman of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, will hold a field hearing on Friday in Clearwater to kick over emergency management.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta is poised to hear oral arguments Wednesday in Florida's constitutional challenge against the Affordable Care Act, the signature federal health-care overhaul President Barack Obama pushed for and signed into law in 2010.

Florida is joined by 25 other states in the suit, and has already won the first round at a lower court in Pensacola earlier this year, when a judge deemed the law's "individual mandate," of imposing penalties and fines on those who do not obtain health insurance, asunconstitutional.

On Monday, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania formally launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

Speaking in Somerset, Pa., Santorum, who won a conservative following during his two terms in the Senate, hammered President Barack Obama on both economic and social issues.

"He's devalued our dollars and now he's devalued our other currency, our moral currency,'' Santorum said about Obama.

The former senator from the Keystone State attempted to contrast himself with Obama.

Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a favorite of conservatives despite his failed bid to become governor of the Buckeye State, announced on Monday that he was endorsing former state House Speaker Adam Hasners bid for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.

Blackwell currently chairs Pass The Balanced Budget Amendment -- an organization that Hasner was affiliated with before embarking on his campaign.

Gov. Rick Scott is in Canada this week, hitting Montreal and Toronto, promoting trade with America's neighbor to the north and investment in Florida.

He is joined by Enterprise Florida President Gray Swoope and a delegation of Florida business leaders, and promises an "important economic development announcement" coming on Wednesday from Montreal.

Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, who is running for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, signed the "Contract From America" which pledges that a candidate will back smaller government, repeal the federal health-care law. and lower taxes. The contract is being pushed by FreedomWorks and former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey. The contract was backed in the 2010 cycle bymyriad candidates including Mike Lee, Jim DeMint, Tom Coburn and Sharon Angle.

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards pleaded not guilty in federal court Friday to charges that he used $925,000 in campaign funds to hide an affair and out-of-wedlock paternity.

From the Politico story: