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

Signaling continued sharp division over Obamacare, a slight majority of U.S. voters believe market competition -- not more government involvement -- is the better way to reduce health-care costs, a new poll reports. A Rasmussen telephone survey finds that 51 percent of likely voters say free-market competition between insurance companies will do more to bring down health-care costs than more government regulation.Thirty-one percent favor increased regulation and 18 percent are not sure.

The Florida House joined the Senate on Wednesday in passing the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act which would pave the way for local farmers to work with school districts to include more fruits and vegetables in school breakfast and lunch programs, and would switch control over school lunch programs from the state Department of Education to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill, which was a high priority for Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, now heads to Gov. Rick Scott who is expected to sign it.

On Wednesday morning the House passed a bill backed by Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, to expand high-performing charter schools and would give them the ability to apply for charters for up to as many as 15 years. Stargels bill passed, 87-27. The reason I like this bill is it allows us to copy success, said Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville. We are able to emulate the good charter schools. We are able to expand them. Democrats spoke against the proposal, arguing that the Legislature should focus on improving other public schools.

While their reading scores have been nothing to write home about, Florida students continue to post top numbers in the FCAT writing battery. The state Department of Education announced Wednesday that pupils in grades 4, 8 and 10 scored "historic highs" on the writing test this year. Our educators continue to rise to the occasion, answering the call of increased expectations for our students to ensure they are leaving school ready for the next step, said Florida Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith.