In the latest round of the states constitutional challenge to the federal health-care law backed by President Barack Obama, Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to the U.S. Department of Justices latest motion and called for the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case as soon as possible.

Along with Democratic U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns introduced the National Right-To-Carry Reciprocity Act on Wednesday which would mandate that states recognize concealed firearm permits from other states.

With Medicaid reform looming as one of the largest challenges confronting the Legislature in 2011, Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, is looking to reach out to as many Floridians as possible in explaining why the program needs to be tweaked. Negron released a video on Wednesday in which he asked for more public input and offered some of the details of the pending legislation.

Despite getting less than 21 percent of the vote when he took on Democratic U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings back in November, former Haitian Senate President Bernard Sansaricq, a powerful figure from that island nation back in the '80s and early '90s, is angling for a rematch with the incumbent in 2012. While Sansaricq was a very heavy underdog to knock off Hastings, he did receive the endorsement of former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The once and perhaps future Republican nominee has filed with the state Division of Elections.

A Gallup poll released on Wednesday indicated that, with less than a year to go until Republicans start deciding who their presidential candidate will be, no front-runner has emerged in the potentially crowded field.

Florida House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, praised U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who spoke to House Republicans Wednesday morning.

It was an honor to have U.S. Senator Rubio address the members of the Florida House today, said Lopez-Cantera. At the national level, he is championing conservatism and fiscal restraint vital to reduce the budget deficit and ensure the future prosperity of our nation.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott weighed in on Tuesday in a radio spot on an issue that is front and center on the national political stage -- collective bargaining. Scott said he backed collective bargaining provided union members kept tabs on what their leaders are negotiating.

Read more from Politico.

Sign up for news alerts from Sunshine State News

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who has his eye on running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, went to bat for Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin in his struggle with public-sector employees over benefit reforms.

It is vital that every one of us help Governor Scott Walker today, Gingrich wrote to supporters on Wednesday. In Madison, Wis., we are witnessing a profound struggle between the right of the people to govern themselves and the power of entrenched, selfish interests to stop reforms and defy the will of the people.

A joint resolution to put a constitutional amendment on the 2012 ballot allowing voters to opt out of the year-old federal health-care law passed through its third Senate committee Wednesday.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has been pushing the bill, along with House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, as a way to push back against the Affordable Care Act that imposes an individual mandate on Americans that requires them to obtain health insurance or face fines or taxes.

Marco Rubio returned to the Florida House on Wednesday -- this time not as the House speaker but as a U.S. senator and an up-and-coming star who has caught the attention of conservatives and Republicans across the nation.

Today is indeed a great day for the Florida House, said House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, who praised Rubio as a bold, conservative, dynamic leader.

It is surreal to be back, said Rubio after receiving a standing ovation from the legislators.