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

Some of Palm Beach County's heaviest political hitters gathered Friday to support Republican Senate President Mike Haridopolos' candidacy for the U.S. Senate. It's a seat currently held by Democrat Bill Nelson. Some 50 supporters wedged into the offices of Smith & Ballard for the luncheon. Here's a list of the event's hosts: BRIAN BALLARDROBERT COKERMAT FORRESTTUCKER FREDERICKSONJACK FURNARIAMY YOUNG GRIMESJOE HILLIARDTIM KUEBLERSYLVESTER LUKISSEN. JOE NEGRONGARY NICKLAUSKEN PRUITT

State leaders are crowing over Florida being ranked as the fourth largest exporter state in the union -- but think there is room to improve. The U.S. Department of Commerce released statistics showing the Sunshine State is behind Texas, California and New York, in that order, in exports.

Siding with Big Tobacco, Associated Industries of Florida wants the Legislature to place a 40-cent-per-pack fee on Miami-based cigarette maker Dosal. In a statement issued Monday morning, AIF said it supports "legislation that would require all tobacco manufacturers that sell cigarettes in Florida to pay their fair share toward the states burgeoning Medicaid costs." Under the state's 1997 Tobacco Settlement Agreement, the major manufacturers agreed to pay the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually to help defray some of the states health-care costs.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns weighed in late last week after the House backed an amendment he filed on cutting federal funding for renovations of the U.N. building on Friday night.