In light of yet another round of cold weather, Gov. Rick Scott has reissued an executive order allowing vehicles transporting crops to ignore some of the normal rules.

Former Gov. Charlie Crist issued the order originally on Dec. 10, but it expired on Dec. 31. But because of threatening conditions, Scott is allowing the continued relaxation of restrictions on the weight, height, length, and width for commercial vehicles transporting agricultural products.

Gov. Rick Scott, along with 32 other governors and governors-elect, signed a letter that was sent Friday to President Barack Obama, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and congressional leaders, asking for relief from federal mandates that interfere with how states operate their health care programs.

In his first televised interview since he was inaugurated, Gov. Rick Scott bemoaned provisions in the federal health-care legislation that would punish states that don't add more Medicaid recipients to their rolls. Scott, appearing on Neil Cavuto's show on Fox News Friday, also spoke about education and federal spending.

"It's the biggest job killer," he said of the health care bill. "I ran as the jobs governor. We can't deny our projections to deal with the fact there's a significant number of people going on Medicaid.

Newly inaugurated Florida Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera made his maiden speech in Congress on Friday, calling for free trade between the U.S. and Colombia.

Colombia is Americas fourth largest trading partner in Latin America, and the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that 9,000 American companies trade with Colombia, most of which are small businesses, and many of which operate in my district in South Florida, said Rivera. While 90 percent of Colombian goods enter the U.S. duty-free, American companies still pay tariffs for U.S. goods to enter Colombia.

The Washington Post reports that a ruling issued by the Massachusetts Supreme Court on Friday voiding foreclosures in two cases has the potential to affect foreclosure proceedings in the rest of the country, especially in states like Florida with high foreclosure rates and a courts-only process for handling foreclosures.

On Friday, U.S. House Approprations Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., named Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw as chair for the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee -- a position that had been held by South Florida Democrat U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz -- and to the Homeland Security and Defense Appropriations Subcommittees.

On Friday, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., named members to the various appropriations subcommittees -- and Florida Republicans won some plum assignments.

The dean of the House Republicans, U.S. Rep. Bill Young, was named to lead the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee where he will be joined by U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw. Rogers also named Young as one of two chairmen emeritus for the Appropriations Committee.

Young will also serve on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.

While the national unemployment dropped in December to 9.4 percent, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney said on Friday that the continuing problem shows the need for free-market solutions.

With unemployment above 9 percent for the 20th consecutive month, and much higher in Florida, the American people know the status quo is not working, said Rooney.While any growth in jobs over the last month is a positive step, the failures of the last two years have proven that the government does not create jobs, small businesses do.

Some good news on the job front as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Friday that the national unemployment rate fell to 9.4 percent in December -- a drop from Novembers rate of 9.8 percent, with growth in hospitality, food services, health care, temporary employment and mining. Little changed in the way of manufacturing and, more pertinent to Florida which has lagged behind the rest of the nation in reducing its unemployment, constriction.

Gov. Rick Scott held a press conference Friday to review his first week as governor, highlighting his executive orders aimed at cutting out regulations that hamper job growth and his appointments of agency heads. He said his first moves reflected his focus on jobs and Florida's economy.

"We've got to recognize we're competing against 49 other states and some other countries, too," Scott said.