Alas, Mr. Smith can't go to Washington anymore -- unless he's got a buck or two of his own and knows how to harvest and bundle massive donations.

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday announced the reappointments of Carlos Beruff and George Mann to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. He also announced the appointments of two new members to that same governing board -- Thomas E. Tommy Bronson and Bryan K. Beswick.

The House staff has reviewed and released the latest actuarial study of the House Pension Reform Bill (HB 7011). According to the Milliman study -- not accounting for "intervening variables and variations in assumptions" the bill would incur the following costs and savings:

An estimated $9.8 billion in savings to taxpayers in 2042-43.

An estimated $2.1 billion in savings to taxpayers in 2023-24.

The Florida League of Mayors liked what they heard Tuesday, fully support Gov. Rick Scotts economic development efforts and released a statement to say so publicly.

"Mayors are leaders in their communities and, like Governor Scott, understand the importance of economic development in their cities," according to the League's statement. "They also know that when cities are given home rule authority to meet the unique needs of their citizens, economic opportunity and prosperity will follow."

Several dozen members of the group Dream Defenders apparently figured Tuesday's busy session opener was their best shot at grabbing lawmakers' attention.

They rallied outside the House and Senate chambers through the morning to give their version of the State of the State.

The Dream Defenders formed to protest Florida's Stand Your Ground law after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The suspect in that case is using the law in his defense.

Gov. Rick Scott hasn't yet begun his third State of the State address, but House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, already released his response earlier Tuesday.

Naturally, it has a House Democratic Caucus perspective on the governor's address. Have an early read. It will, however, be carried later on The Florida Channel:

"A government that grows too big grows too intrusive and threatens our liberty and democracy."

"The federal government is trying to buy states off one by one. I'm not buying it. Florida shouldn't buy it."

"Will we earn the people's trust, or will we confirm their worst fears about us?"

Jeb Bush said it straight out: He's not out of the presidential picture.

Speaking on NBC's "Today" show Monday morning, when asked if he plans to throw his hat into the 2016 ring for the White House, the former Florida governor said, "That's way off into the future. I won't [rule it out] but I won't declare today either."

Having emerged from the shadows of a major 2011 hiring scandal and subequent agency shakeup, the South Florida Water Management District has thrown itself right back into the soup with another high-level hiring faux pas.

Could the pain of looming sequestration get any worse?

Never mind the 2 percent cuts to Medicare if sequestration takes place tonight. Or the $902 million in reductions to loan guarantees to small businesses. Or the 766,000 health care-related jobs that could be eliminated because of those Medicare cuts.