Worried about the future of a program that funnels money to hospitals, Florida has asked federal officials for another two weeks to reach agreement on continuing the states Medicaid managed-care pilot.

The controversial pilot, which requires most Medicaid beneficiaries in five counties to enroll in managed-care plans, was scheduled to expire Sunday. But the state Agency for Health Care Administration sent a letter to federal Medicaid officials on Friday, seeking a 14-day temporary extension.

This week the House of Representatives and the Senate spent all week trying to wrap up a new 3.0 debt deal and pass it along to the president before the end of the day on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

Tampa is hosting the Republican National Convention 13 months from now, but the home state could seat only half of its total delegates if Florida refuses to move its current primary date.

Florida's presidential preference primary is currently scheduled for Jan. 31, 2012. Legislative leaders will likely move the date, but RNC rules prohibit most states from holding primaries ahead of March 1.

"There's a punishment in place (for moving the primary ahead) and it's half the delegates. That's firm and it will be in place," RNC spokesperson Ryan Tronovitch said.

Another week, another call by Progress Florida for an investigation or a petition or a protest.

In the three months since the legislative session ended, the Florida Retirement System has seen a substantial uptick in the number of new retirees.

Likely at least in part in response to a new law that dramatically changed the state's retirement plan, requiring employee contributions for the first time in three decades, about 10,100 people chose to enter retirement or exited the state's deferred retirement plan in May, June and July, an increase of more than 900 people from the same time last year.

Florida officials this week made sinkhole rates go higher and hoped prison costs would go lower in an effort to save state taxpayers money on both.

Sinkhole coverage got a lot more expensive for tens of thousands of coastal residents who will see their rates leap toward the heavens as state insurers this week tried to make up for decisions made a few years ago that critics say were politically expedient, but actuarially irresponsible.

WASHINGTON -- August is upon us, beaches beckon, and Michele Bachmann has set the self-improvement bar high.