Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania on Monday formally launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

Speaking in Somerset, Pa., Santorum, who won a conservative following during his two terms in the Senate, hammered President Barack Obama on both economic and social issues.

"He's devalued our dollars and now he's devalued out other currency, our moral currency,'' Santorum said about Obama.

The former senator from the Keystone State attempted to contrast himself with Obama.

Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux unveiled his finance team Monday, which he hopes will help him win the Republican nomination in 2012 and the ability to take on the Democratic incumbent U.S. senator, Bill Nelson.

I am thankful to earn the support of these great Floridians and humbled by their investment in my campaign, LeMieux said. I am especially honored to have the support of these business leaders and job creators who know the leadership it will take to get our economy moving in the right direction."

State reading scores remained the same this year, according to FCAT results announced Monday.

The inaugural year of "FCAT 2.0" testing showed steady performance by students in grades 3-10.

Math scores in grades 3-8 also matched last year's results.

Department of Education officials said the "2.0" scores were based on new testing content, but could be "linked" to previous years' scores for valid comparisons.

Education Commissioner Eric Smith said the 2012 reading and math exams -- with new cut scores -- would likely reveal more year-to-year differences.

Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, who is running for the Republican nomination for U.S. senator in 2012, highlighted his conservatism on Monday, signing the "Contract From America" and announcing the support of another prominent conservative figure.

Proving the decentralized nature of their movement, tea partiers aren't jumping to join a group's protest at a South Florida mosque on Tuesday night.

Members of Tea Party Fort Lauderdale -- along with allied Christian and pro-Israel groups -- will demonstrate outside the Masjid Jamaat al-Mumineed mosque in Margate at 7 p.m.

The coalition wants the mosque shut down because its chief religious leader, Izhar Khan, was arrested last month and charged with conspiracy to finance the Taliban in Pakistan.

Most Floridians are unaware of the drama that plays out daily on their behalf between the press and the governor's office.

I'm talking now about public records. About the simple act of retrieving information the citizens of Florida already paid for -- but can't have in a reasonable time period or at reasonable cost.

Citizens in the Sunshine State have come to believe -- and rightly so -- that most things their government does are as much their business as they are any elected official's.

Time is of the essence when it comes to our nations financial health, but you wouldnt know it if you looked at the House and Senate schedule this week.

Recent headlines in Florida claim our state is searching for a rock star to fill the role of commissioner of education. That headline does little to stimulate interest and in fact is likely to do more harm than good.