Vaccinations are truly one of the health care industrys greatest success stories. Immunizations are credited with preventing an estimated 14 million cases of disease and avoiding 33,000 deaths a year.

Sen. Jack Latvala blunted consumer-protection efforts Thursday by winning approval of an amendment to authorize the continued sale of Floridians' Social Security numbers.

But the fight is far from over, and will be rejoined Tuesday when the Committee on Government Oversight and Accountability takes up the bill again.

Senate Bill 1208 would have prohibited the state Department of Financial Services from disseminating some 3.3 million Social Security numbers to registered attorneys, CPAs and private investigators.

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday came out in favor of how the House of Representatives is trying to revamp the states no-fault insurance program.

After watching the Florida Highway Patrol demonstrate how accidents are staged in order to illegally collect insurance payments, Scott said there are elements of the separate personal injury protection reform bills still making their ways through each legislative chamber.

A large field of Republicans is vying to succeed U.S. Senate candidate Connie Mack in one of the most staunchly GOP congressional districts in Florida.

Spanning Lee County and the coastal strip of Collier County, the tentatively designated CD 19 has attracted a host of contenders, but only a handful have the name recognition and financial wherewithal to wage serious campaigns.

Of the 11 GOP candidates who have filed with the Federal Election Commission, just five listed any campaign contributions during the latest reporting period.

While Florida remains one of the most pivotal states in American politics, the Sunshine State has never produced a single president, vice president or even a candidate or running mate on a national partys ticket. Despite this record, Florida has been an important place for many of the presidents.

While the other candidates for the Republican presidential nomination focus on Arizona and Michigan, both of which hold primaries on Feb. 28, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas looks to make a breakthrough in two Northwestern states holding caucuses in the first week of March -- Washington and Idaho.

With 43 delegates at stake, Washington holds its caucus on March 3. Idaho, which has 32 delegates, holds its caucus on March 6, the same day nine other states hold primaries and caucuses.

Gov. Rick Scott has his office working to determine what he can do to keep up the effort to bid out the services of up to 26 Central and South Florida correctional institutions this session.

With the private outsourcing effort projected by state economists to save at least $16.5 million a year, Scott is trying to determine if he can proceed on his own or through other means after the Florida Senate -- with 10 Republicans joining the entire Democratic roster -- rejected a bill on the future management of the facilities on Tuesday.

With the Michigan primary looming on Feb. 28, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is looking to get back in the game in the Great Lakes State and catch Rick Santorum there.

Michigan should be friendly territory for Romney. He won the primary there in 2008, beating John McCain by 9 percent, and his father, George Romney, served as governor during the 1960s. Romney has played up his roots in Michigan, noting that he was born there, despite basing his political career in Massachusetts.

The Senate Budget Committee on Thursday submitted a $70.7 billion budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

On top of promoting economic development and job creation, we showed our commitment to education by providing more than $1 billion in funding to our K-12 education system, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, stated in a release.

The spending next goes before the full Senate.

The House has alreadyapproved its own $69.2 billion fiscal package.

The following budget breakdown was released by the Senate:

For all the talk of Floridas 14 ports that are being prepped to capture the expansion of cargo through the Panama Canal and the overall growth in international trade, there is a possible 15th on the western horizon.

Officials in Citrus County are looking to capture some of the growing trade.

Their eyes are not on creating a deepwater port that would be able to dock the massive Panamax ships.