Meeting in one of Florida's most Republican counties, Senate President Mike Haridopolos and three other state lawmakers were encouraged to supercharge their cost-cutting agenda.

While the jury may be out on whether U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan will enter what could be an increasingly crowded Republican primary field to take on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, the Florida congressman has raised his profile significantly in recent weeks.

While negotiations continued to extend all tax cuts supported by President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003, the U.S. House extended some of those cuts Thursday. The measure passed with 234 votes, 188 congressmen opposing it.

With the 2010 elections successfully in the rearview mirror, the Republican Party, like everyone else, is setting its sights on 2012. Experts say success in 2012 for any party will include a healthy harvesting of the Hispanic vote.

Florida transportation advocates on Thursday flashed yellow caution lights at a key plank of a bipartisan debt commissions recommendations for balancing the federal budget, raising the federal tax on gasoline.

Forecasts for the cost of Floridas Medicaid program were set to be agreed upon Thursday, but because of discrepancies between the estimates of two state agencies, they were delayed.

As the week unfolded, it appeared that the last days of the lame-duck session of Congress might well end in gridlock. Many issues had been left to the last days, but certainly the biggest issue was whether the so-called "Bush tax cuts" would be extended for not only the "middle class," but for those fabulously wealthy individuals who have the audacity to earn more than $250,000 a year -- the "wealthy."

Trial lawyers are getting the bum's rush at the Legislature, where a Republican supermajority -- led in the Senate by right-minded President Mike Haridopolos -- will push aggressively for tort reform next year.

From his perch as the ranking Republican on the U.S. House Communications, Technology and Internet Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns continues to fight for free market solutions for the Internet.

Floridas construction industry has had a rough time the past three years, but some builders have hope for a turnaround, despite the numerous challenges facing the industry.