After a late night and early morning to vote in favor of extending tax cuts backed by George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003, U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., weighed in on Friday morning on why he voted for the measure.

This plan is 85 percent tax cuts and 15 percent spending. The new spending will be dealt with in short order by making cuts to other areas, said Rooney, who argued that letting the tax cuts expire would be the largest tax increase in American history. By keeping taxes low, people control their own money, rather than surrendering it to the government.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is hoping congressional leaders can rework the $1.1 trillion omnibus appropriations bill that failed Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., pulled it after it failed to get enough support.

Clinton said that without the spending bill, national security, diplomatic and humanitarian efforts overseas will be disrupted.

State Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson announced on Thursday that, due to the cold weather, he asked for and received an extension of an executive order issued by Gov. Charlie Crist -- moving the suspension of weight restrictions for trucks which were set to expire on Dec. 17 until Dec. 31.

Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica --soon to be the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure when the GOP takes control of Congress in January -- named new Republican members of his committee on Thursday, including incoming U.S. Rep. Dan Webster of Florida.

Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan took to the congressional floor on Thursday morning to offer harsh criticism of the spending bill emerging from the Senate -- and call once again for a balanced budget.

Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney took aim at Senate Democrats for backing a spending bill that is more than $1.1 trillion.

This 1,924-page, $1.2 trillion monstrosity is a slap in the face of the American people, who came out in droves on Nov. 2 and told Congress to cut spending and balance the budget, said Rooney. Our country is in a deep financial hole, but the Democratic majority is inexplicably determined to keep digging until its final breath.

The dean of congressional Republicans, U.S. Rep. Bill Young, announced this week that he was going to be closing one of his district offices.

With an eye toward saving taxpayer funds, I have decided to close my St. Petersburg office effective Dec. 17, 2010, noted Young. My St. Petersburg staff will relocate and combine with my Seminole district office.

It is my intent to establish an outreach location whereas my staff will continue to meet with and assist those constituents who reside in southern Pinellas County, added Young.

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack penned an op-ed in Thursdays edition of Roll Call that offers what could be a peak at his playbook if he decides to enter the Republican field of hopefuls looking to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.

Gov. Charlie Crist set the dates Wednesday for two special elections to be held to fill spots in the Legislature left by resignations.

Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis weighed in on Thursday morning on the $1.1 trillion 2011 spending bill emerging in the Senate.

This pork-laden bill is stuffed with more earmarks and big-government spending at a time when we can least afford it, said Bilirakis. President Obama himself said the country cant afford these earmarks and the American people voted in November to end this spending binge, so now its time for the president to step up and veto this bill if it passes Congress.