Two Republican congressmen hoping to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in the Senate focused on reforming the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Thursday. Rubio is currently running for the Republican presidential nomination and is not expected to run for a second Senate term in 2016. 

U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., looked at the VA budget as the House Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on the subject on Thursday. Miller chairs the committee. 

With every new budget for each fiscal year comes another annual legislative tradition: Florida TaxWatch's yearly "Turkey" report, which identifies the projects which squeaked into the state budget -- and passed -- at the last minute. 

In King v. Burwell, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday in favor or tax subsidies set up by President Barack Obama’s federal health-care law and the Florida delegation split along party lines over the decision. 

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy sided with the court liberals on the 6-3 decision. The challenge to Obama’s law, specifically focused on whether health insurance tax credits can be run at both the federal and state levels. The plaintiffs insisted only state exchanges can promote the tax credits. 

Republican presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., turned to veterans issues this week, drawing fire from the left as he pushed to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

On Wednesday, Rubio showcased his support for the “VA Accountability Act of 2015.” U.S Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., the chairman of the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee, introduced the bill back in April and Rubio joined on as the Senate sponsor. 

Only days before a new Florida law would start requiring 24-hour waits before women can have abortions, a Leon County circuit judge is considering whether to place a hold on the law while a constitutional challenge goes forward.

The law (HB 633), which passed in April, is slated to go into effect July 1. The day after Gov. Rick Scott signed the law, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a constitutional challenge and sought an emergency injunction.

Florida retailers are expecting a busy August as shoppers across the Sunshine State take advantage of a 10-day sales-tax holiday. 

Last week, the Legislature voted to extend the back-to-school tax holiday to 10 days, a large increase from the usual three-day period. Running from Aug. 7 through Aug. 16, there will be no sales tax on clothes, shoes and bags $100 and less, school supplies up to $15 and the first $750 of personal computers.

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., brought out two bills on Tuesday to crack down on fraud targeting veterans. Rooney, who served in the Army and taught at West Point, serves on the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. 

Pointing toward increased fraud involving veterans, Rooney said that was the result of increased benefits. 

Candidates in a South Florida U.S. House race are bringing in congressional leaders to rally the troops during the last days of the second quarter fundraising period. 

Running against U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., former Miami-Dade Democratic Chairwoman Annette Taddeo turned to U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Monday. Pelosi sent out a fundraising email on Taddeo’s behalf. 

Praising Taddeo as a “voice for hard-working South Florida families,” Pelosi insisted national Republicans will go all out to help Curbelo. 

Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet agreed Tuesday to pay about $55,000 in legal fees as part of a settlement to close a lawsuit alleging they violated the state's Sunshine Law.

Gov. Rick Scott drew fire from the Republican leadership of the Florida Senate and cheers from fiscal conservatives, including in the House leadership, after vetoing more than $460 million from the state budget on Tuesday.