Legal challenges are mounting against a new state law that prevents political candidates from switching parties within 365 days of an upcoming election.

Former Public Service Commission member Nancy Argenziano is suing to run as a Democrat for Congress. Argenziano, a former Republican, was barred from running as a Democrat because she had registered as a member of the Independent Party of Florida.

"A lot of people don't know about the law. They will find out at last minute at qualifying," said Janet Ferris, Argenziano's attorney.

Gov. Rick Scott's probe into expenditures at the state's special taxing districts might want to start at Lee County Mosquito Control.

With an annual budget of $22 million, Lee's mosquito district spends more than 46 other mosquito districts -- combined.

"There's no excuse for it," says state Rep. Paige Kreegel, who has introduced legislation that could abolish the district.

Scott last week directed his Office of Policy and Budget to review and make recommendations for cutting costs at some 1,600 special districts levying more than $15 billion in taxes each year.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who was only eight votes away from defeating former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts to win the Iowa caucus, unveiled his campaign team for Florida on Friday. The Florida primary will be held on Jan. 31, 10 days after South Carolina Republicans hold their own primary.

Santorums team in the Sunshine State will be chaired by Florida Republican operative and businessman Jesse Biter, president and CEO of Biter Enterprises. Biter also helped out on Mike Huckabees presidential campaign in 2008 and Rick Scotts gubernatorial bid in 2010.

With just more than a week until South Carolina Republicans vote in their presidential primary, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts leads the pack of GOP hopefuls according to two polls released on Friday.

He may perform his heroics these days in a Denver Broncos jersey, but the most talked-about player in the National Football League is likely to remain a Florida brand his whole gridiron career.

Quarterback Tim Tebow was a University of Florida Gator before he was the darling of the Mile High City. And what a Gator.

State economists left their revenue estimate for the next 18 months all but unchanged Thursday, prompting renewed calls from the House for lawmakers to finish their budget on time despite the Senate leader's hesitance to move quickly.

The new estimate changes the overall projection by $26.1 million -- about 1 percent of the projected $2 billion budget shortfall and an increase of 0.05 percent in projected revenue. It includes an increase of $46 million in the estimate for the current year and a drop of $19.9 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

With the prison population down for the third consecutive year, the state will begin to close the first of seven state prisons and four work camps by the end of this month.

The move is part of a statewide consolidation plan that is projected to save $14.9 million this year and $75.8 million in the next fiscal year.

The Florida Department of Corrections plan calls for the elimination of 1,293 full-time employee positions, from correctional officers to medical and kitchen staff, and will further impact numerous contractors providing services to the facilities.

U.S. Senate candidate George LeMieux lashed GOP rival Rep. Connie Mack and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in a speech to a tea party group Thursday.

"You don't send career politicians to fix Washington," LeMieux told the Indian River County Tea Party in Vero Beach. "I would serve a term or two and go home."

Characterizing Mack's private-sector experience as "a market outreach coordinator for Hooters," LeMieux renewed his call for term limits and noted that he lives and works in Florida.

WASHINGTON -- There are two stories coming out of New Hampshire. The big story is Mitt Romney. The bigger one is Ron Paul.

As the race for the Republican presidential nomination heads to South Carolina with its high concentration of evangelical Christians, those voters will increasingly be the focus of the GOP hopefuls.

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- who is looking to derail Republican front-runner former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts in South Carolina on Jan. 21 -- unveiled the support of prominent religious leaders on Thursday. Prominent Christian author George Barna will lead Gingrichs Faith Leaders Coalition.