Former Sen. Rod Smith, the chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, reached out to newly elected Republican Party of Florida Chairman David Bitner, hoping to join forces in moving the states presidential primary back.

Gov. Rick Scott's office released a statement Friday on Florida's 12 percent unemployment rate for December, calling the number "unacceptable."

"Todays report of a 12 percent unemployment rate for Florida in December means that more than 1.1 million Floridians are jobless. This is not acceptable. The numbers reaffirm my commitment to getting Florida back to work, and prove that we must put job creation first by making Florida the best place to do business, Scott said.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce praised Gov. Rick Scott for selecting Jack Miles to lead the Department of Management Service.

As a veteran business leader highly skilled in sourcing and contract management, Jack Miles brings the expertise needed to help government run more like a business, said former House Speaker Allan Bense, who chairs the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Governor Scotts appointment of Jack Miles further solidifies his commitment to reduce costs and ensure government is living within its means.

Gov. Rick Scott named Jack Miles, a former senior director at CIGNA, to lead the states Department of Management Services on Friday.

Pointing to his new appointee saving more than $80 million in less than two years at CIGNA, Scott insisted that Miles would be able to cut costs and provide returns on investments in his new role. Miles also worked as a vice president at Computer Associates and for American International Group.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan introduced a bill on Friday that could have a deep impact in Florida as he looked to stop Cuba from launching oil rigs only 50 miles from the Sunshine States coast.

Cubas plan to drill for oil in its sovereign waters off the Florida Keys poses a serious threat to our tourism industry and our environment, said Buchanan, adding that Cuba was not prepared to deal with a spill like the one that impacted the Gulf last year.

Florida's unemployment rate didn't budge in December 2010, remaining at 12 percent, the same as the previous month, according to the seasonally adjusted numbers released Friday by the state Agency for Workforce Innovation.

There were 1.1 million people out of work out of a total labor force of 9.2 million in Florida, representing a nonagricultural employment drop of 17,900 jobs from November, but an increase of 43,500 jobs from December 2009. That means December 2010 was the sixth month in a row the state witnessed a year-over-year increase in jobs.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. John L. Mica, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, made subcommittee assignments sending freshman and fellow Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland to the Aviation and Highways and Transit subcommittees.

Travel and Leisure magazine has ranked America's favorite cities, and Florida's premier municipalities -- Orlando and Miami -- did very well, with Orlando being ranked the No. 1 city for a family vacation.

Two Miami-Dade police officers were killed Thursday morning while trying to serve an arrest warrant for homicide. One of the suspects accused of shooting the officers was killed by return fire. The other was taken into custody.

Later in the afternoon, Congressman Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, briefly expressed condolences to "all those affected by the tragic and senseless deaths of two Miami-Dade officers this morning."

Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, wants the U.S. Senate to take up the repeal of the federal health care law signed by President Barack Obama last year. Representatives in the House passed repeal legislation Wednesday.