Florida taxpayers could save hundreds of millions of dollars annually in utility costs if cities turned over their municipal electric systems to Florida Power & Light, an independent study shows.

Of the 33 Florida cities that own and operate electric utilities, none have rates lower than FPL and only two are within 10 percent of FPL pricing, according to the analysis compiled by Glenn Heran, a Vero Beach-based CPA and consultant.

With the four major Republican presidential candidates battling it out in 10 states on Super Tuesday, Newt Gingrich is focusing on winning Georgia, the state he represented in Congress for two decades.

Gingrich crossed the Peach State in a three-day bus tour this week, and there are signs he is headed for a win there in Tuesday's primary. At stake are 76 delegates, which will be divided proportionally among the candidates.

The former congressional leader leads two polls of Georgia unveiled Friday.

President Obama's plan to boost health-care premiums for active-duty and retired military personnel continues to take heavy fire, with Ron Paul and a third Florida congressman wading into the fight.

To push more people into the private "insurance exchanges" designated under Obamacare, the administration wants to begin doubling or tripling charges for coverage in the military's Tricare program.

The price hikes, which would kick in after the 2012 elections, would affect 1.5 million active-duty personnel and up to 21.8 million veterans.

With 10 states on the line on Super Tuesday, eyes are turning to Ohio, where Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are locked in a tight struggle and focusing their efforts.

Two polls unveiled Friday showed Santorum with a small lead over Romney, who has been gaining ground in the Buckeye State after his wins in the Arizona and Michigan primaries on Tuesday night. A third showed Santorum with a larger lead. There are 66 delegates at stake in Ohio which will be divided on a proportional basis.

The House voted largely along party lines Friday to allow state agencies to set up drug testing programs for their workers over the objection of Democrats who said it wasn't just unconstitutional, but a bully tactic.

Leaders of the House and Senate budget committees may need to keep working on budget issues, but both said talks between the chambers are progressing.

Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, and his budget counterpart in the House, Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, said they are convinced budget talks should be easy to resolve this weekend.

With the session winding down, the governor and his staff have played a more hands-on role than in his freshman session.

In addition to one-on-one sit-downs in the governors office with legislators, Gov. Rick Scott has maintained direct contact with legislative leaders in the effort to reform personal injury protection, increase funding for Floridas public schools, cover business tax cuts and throughout the overall budget process.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said Friday hes open to returning in a special session if the states low-cost auto coverage isnt resolved by the end of next week, when the regular session is scheduled to end.

The House and Senate are advancing vastly different bills to meet Gov. Rick Scotts goal to reform the fraud that has become a major part of the cost of the personal injury protection insurance.

The House took up its proposal to revamp Florida's no-fault auto insurance market on Thursday, setting the stage for an upcoming showdown with a dissimilar Senate proposal over how to lower costs.

Following a flurry of amendments that made relatively minor changes, the House gave preliminary approval to HB 119, which backers say is needed to reduce fraud in an industry that is costing policyholders $1 billion a year in additional premiums.

HBO has perhaps made Bill Maher America's nastiest talk-show host. He's also America's most prominent, militant atheist. Now he's made himself the most prominent million-dollar donor to Barack Obama's super-PAC, Priorities USA. He broke out a big check onstage in San Jose to advertise his magnanimous support.