School board members would not be allowed to receive a regular salary, instead getting per diem pay that would be capped at $100 per meeting under a proposal in the Senate.

Lawmakers will consider a measure (SB 7234) on Tuesday pushed by Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, that eliminates a formula in state law used to pay school board members based on the size of the school districts.

After introducing an 11th-hour amendment and taking no testimony from opponents, Senate Judiciary Chairman Anitere Flores on Monday rammed through quick party-line approval of an immigration bill.

Passage of Senate Bill 2040 was immediately hailed by Senate President Mike Haridopolos as "the first significant step in stopping illegal immigration in Florida." Others begged to differ after the panel's hurried vote.

Florida's reputation as America's crucial electoral battleground is getting an early test in an intra-party GOP squabble over the timing of the state's 2012 presidential primary.

The scheduled Jan. 31 date -- a month ahead of Super Tuesday -- would retain Florida's position as the first large state to hold a primary. Four earlier caucuses and primaries are set for Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

Members of Congress are pushing the timetable for resolving the omnibus appropriations/continuing resolution to the brink by trash talking each other for over a week. This began with Sen. Schumer, D-N.Y., labeling the tea party as extreme early last week. Once this comment became public, then the dueling press conferences and public warfare began to flow continuously through most of last week. This is a shame since the American public and valid government programs stand to be harmed or at least inconvenienced.