According to a George Washington University study published in May 2010, in 2009 the Obama administration cranked out regulations as if regulators were on steroids.

National retail sales during the holiday season are expected to show a 5.5 percent increase over last year, according to a report released this week by Mastercard Advisers SpendingPulse.

Gov. Charlie Crist sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday, arguing the cold weather has so devastated Floridas agriculture that the USDA should declare more than half of the states 67 counties a disaster area.

Parade magazine will run an interview on Sunday with former U.S. Rep. Joe Scarborough, the Republican who represented the Panhandle for six years in Congress before turning cable news host.

In the interview, Scarborough played down talk that he would join New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on an independent presidential ticket in 2012, but said it was possible he could make a political comeback.

With 2012 in sight, a dark horse looking at running for the Republican presidential nomination will be heading to New Hampshire for an extended stay next week. Former Gov. Gary Johnson, who served two terms in New Mexico, will travel to the Granite State, site of the first presidential primary, to talk about federal spending and how Congress can reduce it.

The jockeying continues to see who will be the next chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Former RPOF Chairman Tom Slade endorsed former Rep. Dave Bitner this week, praising the current Jefferson County RPOF committeeman for his commitment to conservative values.

Florida ethics officials need more authority to investigate and more power to punish public officials and others for what amounts to a Florida corruption tax that is eroding public trust and stealing taxpayers money, a statewide grand jury said Wednesday.

A Florida appeals court on Wednesday struck down a ban on public insurance adjusters soliciting business in the first 48 hours after a catastrophe, saying the law unconstitutionally burdens commercial free speech rights.

While his name has generated a good deal of buzz, especially since the November elections, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said before Christmas he is more focused on running the Lone Star State and the Republican Governors Association rather than launching a bid for the Republican presidential nomination.