A proposed gambling compact that would give four Seminole casinos exclusive rights to blackjack and other banked card games in Florida continues to hold the state capitol in thrall with the ulimate outcome still unclear.

Thursday, a powerful House committee takes up the issue.

If anyone was looking for a self-righteous extreme feminist, they found one in Angie Jackson. This is a woman who was so proud she was aborting her baby that she announced she would "tweet" her chemical-cocktail abortion live, as it happened, on Twitter. The liberal media found this made-for-TV slaughter fascinating, and not at all a controversy worthy of discussing with two sides.

There's a lively debate going on in the blogosphere and the press about whether Democrats would be better off passing or not passing a health care bill.

As members of both chambers of the Florida Legislature struggled to cut an already lean budget Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed a measure that extends unemployment benefits and, more important to the state government, provides extra funds to the states for Medicaid.

The measure passed the U.S. Senate 62-36. Fifty-six Democrats and 6 Republicans supported the legislation.

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson voted for the measure; Sen. George LeMieux, against it.

Florida Democrats may be gearing up to face Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate race this November, but polls suggest that Gov. Charlie Crist would be a tougher opponent.

Numbers from Public Policy Polling (PPP) released Wednesday follow on the North Carolina-based pollster's report a day earlier that showed Rubio swamping Crist in the Republican primary 60-28.

For months the states Department of Management Services has been struggling to provide lawmakers with a complete list of state landholdings, rental agreements and buildings it owns.

Oil drilling may beanissue that is still awaiting traction in the Legislature, largely because it's an election year, but don't tell Don Baldauf that.

Baldauf has oil fever. And, he's convinced he knows the answer to winning public support for oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico --the state simply declaresall of the submerged lands extending 125 miles out into the Gulf of Mexicoits own possession. Then, the state sets the boundary for permitted oil drilling at no nearer than 25 miles. Voila!

From a desk in Tallahassee topped by a lamp with the leering alligator head of his alma mater printed on its shade, Jay Schleuning works long hours to keep Florida Chamber of Commerce members informed and connected.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has recently opened a Twitter account He is posting political commentary and attaching articles from various publications he deems worthy of reading.

To reach Florida's 43rd Governor go to http://twitter.com/JebBush.