Representing almost 2.3 million Catholics in the Sunshine State, the bishops who lead the seven dioceses across Florida -- Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, Bishop Gerald Barbarito of Palm Beach, Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Bishop Victor Galeone of St. Augustine, Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, Bishop John Noonan of Orlando and Bishop John Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee -- released a statement on Wednesday to mark the 38th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision on Saturday.

Three U.S. senators announced in recent days that they planned to retire in 2012 instead of seeking another term. But Florida Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson shows no signs of joining his three colleagues -- Kent Conrad, D-N.D., Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. -- on the sidelines.

During an address to reporters and editors at the annual Legislative Planning Session held by the Associated Press in Tallahassee on Wednesday, Nelson was asked if he would seek a third term in 2012.

Yes, Nelson replied.

After only two weeks in office, Gov. Rick Scott had the greatest share of the spotlight as Florida leaders met in Tallahassee on Wednesday to speak at the annual Legislative Planning Session held by the Associated Press. Among other issues, Scott spoke about his economic plans and his plans for the budget.

My whole focus is jobs, said Scott, who made the economy and employment growth the core message of his campaign.

As the new Republican majority in the U.S. House looks to push repeal of the health care legislation backed by President Barack Obama last year, Republicans from the Sunshine State are taking to the floor to push the repeal. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis spoke on Wednesday morning, expressing his support for the repeal effort.

Gov. Rick Scott held his first formal meeting with the new Cabinet Wednesday, conducting a short agenda before skipping out on the traditional post-Cabinet meeting questions from the media.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam are all new to the Cabinet and unlike Scott, stuck around for the Q-and-A.

During the meeting the Cabinet approved Hershel Vineyard, a Scott appointee, as secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Rep. Rob Schenck, R-Springhill, who leads the Health and Human Services Committee in the Florida House cheered the news that six more states were joining Floridas constitutional challenge of federal health care laws backed by President Barack Obama.

Gov. Rick Scott spoke out in praise of the six states -- Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, Wyoming, Wisconsin and Maine -- that are joining Florida's lawsuit against the federal health-care law passed last year. Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a motion earlier Tuesday to add the states to the suit.

Here's the governor's statement:

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott named David Wilkins to head up the Department of Children and Families. Wilkins, who had been with Accenture Health and Public Service, was serving as finance chairman of the Florida Baptist Childrens Home.

David's passion for child-care issues and the human services business, along with his decades of management experience in business and charities, will serve this agency well as it protects Floridas families," said Scott.

The State Board of Education set out $31.3 million in fines for public schools and another $355,000 for charter schools Tuesday for exceeding Florida's class-size limits, but the fines could have been much higher.

While all eyes are on Washington as congressional Republicans begin their push to repeal federal health-care laws backed by President Barack Obama, Attorney General Pam Bondi, continuing the constitutional challenge to these laws launched by then-Attorney General Bill McCollum last year, announced six more states are looking to join as plaintiffs.