A new poll from Sunshine State Communications, a firm with connections to prominent Republicans, found that a strong plurality of Republican primary voters did not think the Legislature did enough to help Gov. Rick Scotts jobs plan during the 2011 session -- despite Republican supermajorities in both the House and the Senate.

On Wednesday, Floridas two U.S. senators -- Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Marco Rubio -- worked across party lines to introduce a measure that would create a new IRS form for senior citizens which, the senators maintained, would make filing taxes on Social Security benefits and other sources of income easier for retirees.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos of Merritt Island released a 5-minute video on Tuesday for his bid for the Republican nomination. Trying to wrap himself around conservative champions like Ronald Reagan, Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, the video features Haridopolos family on center stage, even showing the Senate president throwing a football around in his backyard. With polls showing most Florida Republicans undecided, Haridopolos is trying to introduce himself to the voters.

With his presidential campaign taking hits on all sides from a series of gaffes -- including his attack on the budget proposed by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. -- former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich tried to change the conversation on Tuesday and Wednesday by attacking the federal health-care law backed by President Barack Obama.

Gingrich noted in an e-mail to supporters sent out on Wednesday morning that he had signed a pledge in Iowa to repeal the health-care law.

Politico reported on Wednesday that, if he enters the 2012 Republican presidential primary, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman will be setting up base in Orlando.

Ben Smith weighed in on the matter, maintaining that Huntsman was looking to head off former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts:

Gov. Rick Scott is in the process of a thorough review of the budget, and Tuesday he pledged to trim the $69.7 billion budget sent to him by the Legislature.

"As you know, the budget meets my three core principles by reducing the cost and size of government while also providing tax cuts for business and property owners. I can tell you, though, that there will be additional savings. In these tough economic times we must ensure that every hard-earned tax dollar is used wisely and in a way that will get Florida back to work," Scott said.

On Tuesday, Florida Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a proposal that would allow states that refused federal funds to direct those monies to help pay down the national debt. Earlier in the year, Gov. Rick Scott turned down federal funds directed toward building a high-speed rail linking Orlando and Tampa.

Read the full story in Sunshine State News now.

With the federal government reaching the congressionally mandated debt limit on Monday, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan repeated his call for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring a balanced budget.

We cant wait any longer, said Buchanan on Monday. "It is imperative that Washington make the tough choices necessary to balance the budget for taxpayers today and for future generations. Todays announcement only makes the urgency that much greater.

Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner announced on Tuesday that his bid for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 is getting additional support from a national figure affiliated with the conservative movement -- Fox News pundit Moncia Crowley.