A day after a "civil justice" group asked why Florida needed new immigration laws, a Washington think tank offered a dollars-and-cents answer.

The Center for Immigration Studies on Tuesday reported that U.S. immigrants -- legal and illegal -- use welfare programs at a higher rate than the native population.

While conventional wisdom contends that immigrants cross the border to work, 57 percent of households headed by immigrants collect at least one welfare check, compared to 39 percent for native households.

After introducing an 11th-hour amendment and taking no testimony from opponents, Senate Judiciary Chairman Anitere Flores on Monday rammed through quick party-line approval of an immigration bill.

Passage of Senate Bill 2040 was immediately hailed by Senate President Mike Haridopolos as "the first significant step in stopping illegal immigration in Florida." Others begged to differ after the panel's hurried vote.

Florida's reputation as America's crucial electoral battleground is getting an early test in an intra-party GOP squabble over the timing of the state's 2012 presidential primary.

The scheduled Jan. 31 date -- a month ahead of Super Tuesday -- would retain Florida's position as the first large state to hold a primary. Four earlier caucuses and primaries are set for Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

Score another victory for the Confederates.

In what surely has to be the irony of ironies, yet another federal judge has sided with the Sons of Confederate Veterans in the group's ongoing battle to distribute its "heritage" license plates.

Anything bearing the image of the Confederate battle flag is widely considered politically incorrect, if not akin to full-blown Nazism. And that's not just the jaundiced opinion of Northerners or liberals. Republican legislatures, including Florida's, have taken a similarly dim view.

With more than 6.8 million acres already under state and local government control, the Florida Legislature is angling to sell and buy more land.

The dirt-dealing plan, buried in a Senate budget bill, directs agencies to sell off unneeded property. But it also would funnel all proceeds into the Florida Forever trust fund for the purpose of acquiring still more acreage.

"What one hand saveth, another spendeth," says Robert Weissert, of Florida TaxWatch.

A series of little-noted studies throws cold water on the widely advertised claim that Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs reduce the deadly abuse of controlled substances.

Researchers Ronald Simeone and Lynn Holland found that "the probability of pain-reliever abuse is actually higher in states that have PDMPs than in states that do not."

Anxious to hold onto Florida's 25th Congressional District, Republicans are quietly maneuvering for the seat held by Rep. David Rivera.

Rivera, who was elected last year, has been dogged by allegations concerning past financial dealings. A criminal investigation is reportedly under way by the state attorney's office.

In the event that Rivera is sidelined -- or even if he isn't -- several big-name Republicans are said to be interested in running in the GOP-leaning district that stretches from Miami-Dade to Collier County.

In a decision that could affect the issuance of future specialty license plates in Florida, a federal judge overturned the state's rejection of a Confederate tag.

Judge John Antoon said the state acted unconstitutionally in rejecting a specialty plate for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The group had paid the requisite fees and complied with all conditions applicable to the sale of the tag, but the Legislature blocked its issuance.

Claims that the Florida Bar has beaten back judicial reforms proposed by House Republicans were denied by House Speaker Dean Cannon's office Wednesday.

Reacting Tuesday to an e-mail issued by three Palm Beach County attorneys and a Palm Beach County judge, Cannon spokeswoman Katie Betta said GOP leaders are continuing the push to reform courts and curb the Bar's influence.

"These people don't represent the Bar. Speaker Cannon is working with the Bar, but the notion that a deal was cut is wrong," Betta told Sunshine State News.

Brushing aside pointed criticism of a renewable energy bill, the Senate Committee on Communications, Energy and Public Utilities gave preliminary approval to the measure on Monday.

Proponents say Senate Proposed Bill 7082 would increase Florida's use of alternative energy at a modest cost to consumers -- estimated by committee staffers to run an additional $1.40 to $2.60 per household per month.