The strike force formed by Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi to combat pill mills is winning the praise of a fellow Florida Republican -- U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan.

I applaud Governor Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi for taking action on such a critical issue, said Buchanan on Tuesday morning. Its imperative that we crack down on phony pain clinics that bring untold misery to our children, our families, and our communities.

Florida Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio ruled out running for the presidency in 2012. In an interview on ABC News, Rubio insisted he was focused on his current position and would not join the increasingly crowded field of candidates seeking the Republican presidential nomination.

The reality is that I ran for the United States Senate for a simple reason, said Rubio. The United States Senate is a pretty important job, too.

Attorney General Pam Bondi is cautioning Florida citizens to be wary of scammers targeting the elderly who call claiming to be related to them.

The scammers have been able to get the appropriate name to display on the caller ID, and after gaining their target's trust, ask them to send money, usually overseas.

An effort to repeal Florida's prescription drug database, which is yet to become functional, fell flat in the Senate Health Regulation Committee Monday.

Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Miami, offered an amendment to a bill requiring subpoenas for law enforcement access to patients' prescription-drug information that would repeal the database altogether.

"Idon't think this (prescription-drug monitoring program) should be in the hands of government," Garcia said.

Ed Moore, best known for his service as president and CEO of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF), was named to the board of directors of the Childrens Home Society of Florida (CHS).

Although Attorney General Pam Bondi hasn't yet convinced Gov. Rick Scott to get on board with the state's prescription drug monitoring program, they got together Monday to announce their support for a new tool to combat pill mills -- a statewide drug strike force.

Under the task force, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will coordinate with local law enforcement officials to target doctors who liberally prescribe oxycodone and patients who "doctor shop."

On Monday, Republican U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns received an award from theAmerican Farm Bureau Federation. A veteran of the House who was first elected in 1988, Stearns was named a Friend of Farm Bureau.

I am honored that the Florida Farm Bureau nominated me for this award for my commitment to rural America and to the priorities of those in the agricultural sector, said Stearns. Americas agriculture not only feeds our nation, but much of the world as well.I am committed to working to improve the quality of life and economic future for our rural communities.

Chromalloy, an aviation maintenance and manufacturing company, will be moving its corporate headquarters to Palm Beach Gardens, where it will expand in a new Technology Center of Excellence, which has already begun construction.

Gov. Rick Scott was quick to claim the scalp, and said he is working on bringing more companies down to the Sunshine State.

Gretchen Picotte will be handling former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlentys fund-raising activities in Florida as he gears up to make a run at the Republican presidential nomination. Picotte is no stranger to fund-raising in the Sunshine State. The owner of Political Capital, Picotte led former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulianis fund-raising efforts in the Sunshine State during his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. She also helped then-Attorney General Bill McCollums fund-raising in his failed bid to defeat Rick Scott for the Republican gubernatorial nod in 2010.

Florida Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is reaching out to the grass-roots to take on the federal health-care law backed by President Barack Obama -- and building his own base.

Rubio sent out an e-mail to supporters on Sunday, calling for them to sign a petition asking for repeal of the law.