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

They've debated with him, they've welcomed him to their distrcts. They've been rushed and shushed by him. And today, lawmakers said farewell to Senate President Jeff Atwater. In a lengthy round of praise that lasted roughly an hour, senators from both parties recalled how the North Palm Beach Republican made every attempt to make them feel at home on the Senate floor and treated them as family.

Despite raking in $1.36 million so far for her reelection bid, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas has drawn three serious Republican challengers. Former Ruth Chris Steakhouse CEO Craig Miller is boasting that he has brought in more than $341,000 to his campaign coffers -- though the campaign does not note that $200,000 of that came from Millers own funds. Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, has raised almost $287,000 and has almost $168,000 on hand-but $100,000 of that came out her own personal accounts.

Republican frontrunner Marco Rubio continues to gain endorsements in his bid for a U.S. Senate seat. On Friday, the Association of Builders and Contractors of Florida announced they were backing Rubio over Gov. Charlie Crist. ABC stands for free enterprise, Merit Shop, and balanced, reasonable regulation, said Gary Stout, who serves as chairman of the organization. Marco Rubio shares our philosophy, and we look forward to doing all we can to elect Marco Rubio as the next senator from Florida.

Recession and foreclosure doom and gloom is doing little to dampen sales of existing Florida homes and condos, which continue to be priced a levels homebuyers are finding affordable. A federal tax credit that ends soon also has helped drive sales.