BP is a smaller company than it was before the Deepwater Horizon disaster off Floridas Gulf coast last year.

But with third-quarter net profits of $4.9 billion -- up $1.8 billion from the same period a year earlier -- and plans to shed up to $45 billion in assets in the next two years, BPs chief executive officer is telling investors the company is back at work.

The National Federation of Independent Business says a pending 8.9 percent rate hike in workers' compensation costs is bad news for small businesses.

The federation noted that small businesses had to cover a 7.8 percent increase last year and leadership expressed a desire for legislators to again try capping the price doctors can charge when dispensing drugs directly from their medical offices.

Gov. Rick Scott wants the presidents and trustees of Floridas 11 public universities to outline what the schools are doing to ensure graduates meet the need of employers.

And the education leaders have until Nov. 15 to reply.

Ava Parker, chairwoman of the Board of Governors, wrote Scott that the board would coordinate a response.

Scott intends to use the answers for his higher education plan that he has already said he wants focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the STEM core desired for a high-tech future.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce remains opposed to new and increased taxes, but also believes that taxes currently on the books -- even in the paperless world -- should be collected.

Chamber President Mark Wilson said it isnt fair that businesses in Florida must collect the state sales tax while online companies, such as Amazon, can advertise the same item to Floridians without having to charge the same sales tax.

He said the loophole puts small businesses at a disadvantage.