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

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who is leading the tea party revolt against House Speaker John Boehner's debt-ceiling plan, is having his district threatened for going against the party leader, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott named Doug Darling to head up the newly formed Department of Economic Opportunity. He also named Cynthia Lorenzo, who had been interim director, to head up the Agency for Workforce Innovation. Mike Hansen was named to lead the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

With House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, facing term limits in 2012, a familiar face is well-positioned to replace him. Dr. Bob Brooks, who served three terms in the House during the 1990s and served as state health secretary, launched his campaign in late 2009 to run for this seat, which currently represents parts of Orange County -- though that can change, due to redistricting, in 2012. He has raised more than $47,000 so far, and more than $24,000 of that came in the second quarter of 2011. Brooks has also kept his powder dry, spending slightly more than $5,500 so far.

Floridians for Government Accountability added its voice on Thursday to the concerns over a proposed sale of a natural-gas pipeline that serves the state. Chairman James Hart said his group is "closely monitoring" negotiations by two rival companies to acquire Southern Union, which owns the Florida Gas Transmission pipeline. Sunshine State News reported last week that the Williams Cos. and Energy Transfer Equity are vying to buy the pipeline. Industry observers say a Williams purchase could run afoul of antitrust laws.