Include Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam among those opposed to the gaming destination bill that is expected to be drastically rewritten before it goes before its first Senate vote next month.

The two Cabinet members, joining members of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and No Casinos, an organization opposing expanded gambling, called on state legislators to walk away from the proposal they say will grow crime and lead to a proliferation of gambling across Florida.

Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, now in a crowded Republican primary field looking to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, expressed his support for Israel on Thursday -- and attacked President Barack Obamas policies in regard to that American ally.

We must firmly acknowledge that if history has taught us anything, it is that policies of appeasement are ultimately destined to fail, Hasner said on Thursday. On this front, President Obama has proven to be even more irresponsible than Jimmy Carter.

A poll released by Quinnipiac University on Thursday morning found President Barack Obama appears headed for a tough fight to keep the Sunshine State in the Democratic column in 2012, while former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich holds a solid lead over his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination in Florida.

Florida Ports Council President Doug Wheeler was encouraged that Gov. Rick Scott -- who championed the dredging of the Port of Miami earlier this year -- continues to stress the need to bulk up the ports in the state.

Despite a majority contingent of speakers testifying on behalf of dispensing physicians, HB 511 -- a bill limiting how much dispensing physicians can charge for their repackaged drugs -- sailed through the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee on Wednesday.

Fort Lauderdale Democrat Evan Jenne was the lone dissenter.

It was a first-round victory for the insurance industry and its business community support group, in particular the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida.

A proposal to allow surplus lines insurers to take policies out of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. passed its first committee Tuesday, but not before lengthy and pointed exchanges between supporters and vocal industry critic Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey.

The GOP race for president is coming to a head very quickly. Yes, Newt Gingrich had a terrible launch. But that was, in political time, eons ago. Now, Gingrich is the last man standing. And if he keeps his mouth shut, he will be the GOP nominee.

Henry Kelley

A day after state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, complained about the latest congressional redistricting maps, a tea party leader told Democrats to put up or shut up.

"My question for all Democrats is this: 'Where are your maps?'"Henry Kelley said in a Wednesday interview with Sunshine State News.

Newt Gingrich | Credit: Gage Skidmore - Flickr

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich holds a commanding lead over the rest of the pack of Republican presidential hopefuls in state and national polls unveiled on Wednesday.