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

With the U.S. Senate clashing over dueling energy proposals, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner is on the attack, bashing Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelsons votes which have followed party lines.

State Senate President Mike Haridopolos' appearance at Tea Party Manatee's "Meet the Candidate" night wasn't exactly a love fest. In fact, it was about as chippy as a Heat-Bulls playoff game. While the U.S. Senate-hopeful gamely defended his record at Tallahassee, the Bradenton audience zeroed in on the 2011 Legislature's failure to enact an E-Verify immigration bill. After the Merritt Island Republican reminded the crowd of 75 that the Senate passed an E-Verify bill, and reiterated that he is not a "dictator," tea party member Judi Hood fumed:

Miami-Dade mayoral candidate Marcelo Llorente sought on Wednesday to reinstate early voting this Sunday in advance of the county's special election. Calling the shutdown of Sunday's vote a violation of existing state statute, Llorente called the early termination "illogical and unlawful." The 2011 Florida Legislature passed a bill shortening early voting period, but that measure, part of an omnibus election reform package, has not been signed by Gov. Rick Scott.

On Wednesday, Floridas two U.S. senators -- Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Marco Rubio -- worked across party lines to introduce a measure that would create a new IRS form for senior citizens which, the senators maintained, would make filing taxes on Social Security benefits and other sources of income easier for retirees.