Gov. Rick Scott called on the state Legislature on Wednesday to boost primary education funding by $1 billion next year as he looks to make the rest of the 2012-13 budget4.6 percent more efficient.

Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, called the budget thoughtful, while Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said the budget might need to be delayed until after the regular session.

There is no knowledge or evidence that Iranian arms dealers are laundering money through banks chartered in Florida.

But Florida legislators dont want that to happen.

The great money laundering schemes dont always involve the big banks, Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said during a media conference outside the Senate chambers on Wednesday.

The chairman of the House Redistricting Committee says Republicans will be more disappointed than Democrats as they review the seven maps proposed for the states new congressional districts.

Those studying the congressional districts will also be confused when they first see the numbers, as the districts have been made more uniform, starting at 1 in the western end of the Panhandle down to the states additional 27th and 28th districts landing in Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys.

The state is picking up the additional districts because of its population growth.

Associated Industries of Florida took its proactive endorsement of the destination gaming bill, which could mean up to three mega-casinos in South Florida, to the Capitol on Tuesday.

But one of the sponsors of the bill didnt fully embrace the support.

Some of Gov. Rick Scotts vetoes following the 2011 session are paying off.

On Tuesday, a day before he releases his proposed budget for the next fiscal year, Scott said his approach will remain cautious.

I dont want to burden future generations on debt that we should be controlling in our state. I think the same thing about the federal government, Scott told reporters following the Cabinet meeting.

Im going to continue to be very cautious on debt, he added. The coverage numbers suggest we cant afford more debt.

If there is a Florida port that wont see growth when the Panama Canal expansion is completed, it would be the port located closest to the canal.

Already one of the busiest ports of call in the nation, Key West is strictly a cruise ship and ferry port, with berths -- Outer Mole Pier, Mallory Dock, and Pier B -- at the western end of the island city that sits at the end of the Florida Keys.

No cargo comes through the port.

State senators want to explore why universities in Florida, both private and public, fail to attract the Tim Tebows of space research when NASA has spent a half century launching rockets from the Sunshine State.

Members of the Military Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Committee agreed Monday to invite presidents of universities and colleges in Florida to explain what is needed to get their schools more involved in the space industry.