After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

Along with Democratic U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns introduced the National Right-To-Carry Reciprocity Act on Wednesday which would mandate that states recognize concealed firearm permits from other states.

Days after the announcement of a March 8 tea party rally in Tallahassee, another tea group unveiled plans for a March 10 demonstration. The second event, headed by controversial tea party activist Everett Wilkinson, echoes the first in rallying support for Gov. Rick Scott's budget cuts. "Scott is receiving pushback and verbal attacks because of his cost-cutting ideas. We must drown out the opposition and show him our support," Wilkinson said in his e-mail announcement Wednesday night.

Despite getting less than 21 percent of the vote when he took on Democratic U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings back in November, former Haitian Senate President Bernard Sansaricq, a powerful figure from that island nation back in the '80s and early '90s, is angling for a rematch with the incumbent in 2012. While Sansaricq was a very heavy underdog to knock off Hastings, he did receive the endorsement of former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The once and perhaps future Republican nominee has filed with the state Division of Elections.

Florida House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, praised U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who spoke to House Republicans Wednesday morning. It was an honor to have U.S. Senator Rubio address the members of the Florida House today, said Lopez-Cantera. At the national level, he is championing conservatism and fiscal restraint vital to reduce the budget deficit and ensure the future prosperity of our nation.