With 2010 almost ready to be counted out, one of the years top Florida stories Republican Rick Scotts election will turn a new page, morphing into one of the New Years first major political events.

Elected on the promise of creating 700,000 new jobs, incoming Gov. Rick Scott was handed an economic development blueprint last week that cuts business taxes and expands corporate financial incentives, but casts a dim eye toward the more than 1 million Floridians out of work.

Gov.-elect Rick Scott drew some support Wednesday for what is shaping up as a plan to reduce spending in the states Juvenile Justice Department by keeping kids out of costly residential lockups.

One of Gov.-elect Rick Scotts most high-profile campaign promises to slash $1 billion from the states prison system drew a powerful pushback when the union representing correctional officers aired television spots warning he would start releasing inmates to reduce spending.

Floridas budget shortfall hit at least $3.5 billion Tuesday as analysts dialed-back the states revenue forecast, saying sluggish tax collections and a still-faltering economy are complicating the balancing act facing Gov.-elect Rick Scott and legislators.

After campaigning as an outsider, Gov.-elect Rick Scott is ready to turn insider again Friday, sitting down for 15-minute, closed-door interviews with contenders vying to become the next Florida Republican Party chairman.

With tax collections slowing, Medicaid costs rising and Florida housing still a mess, state lawmakers may be facing a budget shortfall whose depth is around $3.5 billion next year, analysts said Tuesday.

Republican Rick Scott got plenty of political mileage during the governors race ridiculing the Obama administration for running up the federal deficit.

With Florida facing a $2.5 billion budget gap, rising Internet sales over the Thanksgiving holiday renewed calls Monday for the state to join others looking to make it easier to collect sales taxes from out-of-state and mail-order merchants.

With multimillionaire Republican Rick Scott heading into the governors office, Florida voters also are turning to a Legislature packed with millionaires to lead the state out of its long and deep economic trench.