Gov. Rick Scott rose in politics by opposing President Barack Obamas federal health-care law and he continued his opposition to it on Thursday, announcing that he was going to sue to ensure the state received Low Income Pool (LIP) funds to Florida even as he and the Florida House continue to fight against Medicaid expansion.

On Thursday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced that North Central Florida residents can go to the Marion County tax collectors office to apply for a concealed weapon license. Marion County Tax Collector George Albright joined his counterparts in Lee, Pinellas, Highlands, Okaloosa, Indian River and Nassau counties in agreeing to let concealed weapons applications go from his office to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Before this, the nearest place to apply for a concealed weapons permit was in Jacksonville.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., called for tax reform on Wednesday, the last day Americans have to file their federal income tax returns.

Our broken tax code cost Americans over $3 trillion and has more words than all of the Harry Potter books combined, Bush noted on Wednesday. It must be simpler, fairer, better for working Americans.

Bush is expected to run for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2016 election.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., a possible U.S. Senate candidate in 2016, called for tax cuts across the board during a national radio appearance on Tuesday.

Buchanan, who sits on the House Ways and Means and the Budget committees, was on Kilmeade and Friends on Fox News Radio and called for lower taxes.

We need to bring down everybodys rates, said Buchanan. The tax rate for small business is almost 50 percent. How much is enough? Its way too high, it hurts jobs and it hurts working families.

Florida TaxWatch showcased the important role cruises play in the Florida economy on Wednesday, releasing a report showing 9 million cruise passengers led to $7.3 billion in direct spending and more than 140,400 jobs in 2013.

"Florida's prime location, blossoming tourism economy and established cruise industry are the envy of the world," said Dominic Calabro, the president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch. "As more passengers discover Florida's unique cruise options, Florida's tourism economy will continue to grow.

The National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) took aim at U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., as he continues his bid for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. On Monday, Rubio launched a presidential bid and is not expected to run for a second term in the Senate.

The NRSC hit Murphy on costs associated with President Barack Obamas federal health-care law on Wednesday.

With Wednesday marking the 150th anniversary of the death of President Abraham Lincoln, Gov. Rick Scott ordered flags to be flown at half-staff. President Barack Obama named Wednesday a Day of Remembrance for Lincoln.

Budget conferencing has begun on Capitol Hill and U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, tapped U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla,., the chairman of the U.S. House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, as part of the Houses negotiating team.

The Tea Party Express is the latest conservative group to call on U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. With Rubio announcing for the presidency on Monday, he is not expected to seek a second term. DeSantis said on Tuesday that he was exploring the possibility and several conservative groups quickly fell in line behind him.

With Wednesday being Tax Day, U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., is using the occasion to gather support for a simplified tax code, gathering online petitions to streamline federal taxes.

Filing taxes is a confusing and burdensome process that we must comply with each year, Curbelo insisted on Wednesday. Too much of our time and hard-earned money is spent just on filing our tax returns. Its time we did away with this headache and simplify the tax code.