Despite a reminder from the governor that he doesn't like the bill, a Senate committee on Wednesday pushed through a plan to allow property insurance companies to raise rates without regulatory approval.

Passage of the measure in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee followed testy exchanges between members of the divided panel, hostile questions of an insurance company lobbyist and state regulatory officials, and a vote against allowing actual debate on the bill before a vote.

During the Bush years, the news media were the promoters of protest, the champions of dissent. Denouncing the president as a brain-damaged warmonger was the most patriotic thing you could do (just ask the Dixie Chicks), and it was guaranteed to please the press.

Victims of medical malpractice and their family members gathered today in Tallahassee to lobby against legislation that would cap damages against emergency room personnel.

The Florida Justice Association (FJA), which represents trial attorneys, organized a news conference for the victims and their family members.

Pointing to the 20 people around him, who were all carrying signs with photos of their loved ones impacted by medical malpractice, Marcus Michaels of the FJA said, These are the representatives of the human cost of medical negligence.

Health care continued to dominate the Florida Legislature Wednesday -- this time with nurse practitioners demanding to be able to write prescriptions.

More than 300 nurse practitioners rallied at the Capitol to lobby for legislation that would allow them to prescribe medicines. Florida and Alabama are the only two states in the nation that don't allow nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled medicine.

Bills in the House and Senate would change the law. But, neither has much of a chance of passing during the session.

Over the years, Florida lawmakers have pushed the courts to make all those who come before a judge pay not just their fines but court costs.

On the heels of Climategate, we find ourselves lied to again by scientists. I have always had a pretty good B.S. detector and since I was a kid I knew something didnt smell right about the whole fossil-fuel, oil-comes-from-dinosaurs, etc theory. Even Sinclair Oil Corp. has a dinosaur in its logo. If you go to www.SinclairOil.com, you will even see a picture of a little girl holding a blow-up Sinclair dinosaur. I think his name is Dino.

While supporters rallied for vouchers this morning in the Capitol courtyard, the Florida Senate was voting to expand the states corporate-funded voucher program -- a program that funds student enrollment in private schools.

The Senate also voted to institute teacher merit pay in public schools.

Looks like Republican leaders are backing Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Ft. Lauderdale, over Rep. Carl Domino, R-Jupiter, in their battle for the GOP nomination to replace Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, in the state senate. Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, have all come out behind Bogdanoff Score one more for the Victory Group.