Florida Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica, chairman of the powerful House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, expressed skepticism on Tuesday over the Obama administrations plans to spend more than $50 billion on rail projects in the next six years.

This is like giving Bernie Madoff another chance at handling your investment portfolio, Mica said.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who moved to Florida last year, reaffirmed his commitment to life on Monday as speculation continues to grow that he will take another shot at the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

The leaders of the Florida Senate and House weighed in on Monday after Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his $65.8 billion proposed budget in Eustis.

The GOP leadership that controls both houses praised their fellow Republicans proposed budget -- which is $5 billion less than the one the Legislature passed the year before under Gov. Charlie Crist -- for cutting back on state spending and not raising taxes.

Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his budget Monday at a tea party event in Eustis, touting his $65.8 billion budget proposal as a "jobs budget."

Here are some of Scott's prepared remarks:

"When I ran for governor, I offered Floridians a specific, detailed plan -- seven steps to 700,000 jobs in seven years.

Rich Lowry over at National Review has a piece up calling for former Gov. Jeb Bush to enter the 2012 presidential race. Lowry lists out eight reasons why Bush should run in 2012 and 2016 which seems to be the former governors plan.

David Drucker over at Roll Call has an interesting political tidbit -- U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio will be sitting outof the Republican presidential primary and will not back any of the leading potential candidates. According to Druckers article, Rubio, who backed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2008, will wait to endorse any of the candidates.

Bob Riley 2012?

Charles Dean from the Birmingham News reports the former Alabama governor is kicking over throwing his name in the hat for what is shaping up to be a crowded battle for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012 -- and a familiar face from Florida is encouraging him to jump in.

One important opinion leader and player on the national political stage encouraging Riley to run is Joe Scarborough, noted Dean in the article. More below:

On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott brought back four nominations that Charlie Crist had made to the PSC: Eduardo Balbis, Ronald Brise, Julie Brown and Art Graham. Scott also brought back other nominations that he had withdrawn earlier in the week -- including Katie Patronis, wife of Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, to the board of trustees of Gulf Coast Community College.

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Conservative leader Gary Bauer, best known for leading the Family Research Council and for running for the Republican presidential nomination back in 2000, offered his take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelsons idea of expediting the constitutional challenge launched by Florida against the federal health care law to the Supreme Court of the United States.