A national author of "anti-Sharia" legislation and an Islamic group can agree on one thing: A South Dakota bill prohibiting the enforcement of religious law is wrong-headed.

But the two remain on opposite sides of a Florida bill barring foreign laws in state courts. The bill, which cleared the Florida House 92-24 on Thursday, will be challenged in court if it becomes law, a Muslim leader said.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations this week called for the governor of South Dakota to veto that state's anti-Sharia Law legislation.

Sen. Marco Rubio and six Florida congressmen -- all Republicans -- earned top scores from the conservative Club for Growth for their votes on key issues last year.

Rubio's 97 percent score ranked him 10th in the Senate and garnered a "Defender of Economic Freedom Award." Other senators receiving the award were Pat Toomey, R-Pa.; Dan Coats, R-Ind.; Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.; Jon Kyl, R-Ariz; and Jim Inhofe, R-Okla.

Five senators boasted perfect scores in 2011: Jim DeMint, R-S.C.; Tom Coburn, R-Okla.; Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Ron Johnson, R-Wis.; and Mike Lee, R-Utah.

With Mitt Romney winning primaries in Michigan and Arizona on Tuesday night, the race for the Republican presidential nomination shifted to states that hold contests in the days to come -- including the 10 primaries and caucuses held on Super Tuesday next week.

Newly approved Senate district maps came under fire at the Florida Supreme Court Wednesday as critics sought to overturn the Legislature's reappointment plans.

Attorneys representing the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, the National Council of LaRaza and the city of Lakeland argued that the Senate maps violated the voter-approved Fair Districts amendments to the state Constitution.

Paul Smith called the Senate lines "clear violations" that favor incumbents and "build in significant advantages for the Republican Party."

Florida congressmen and veterans' groups on Tuesday blasted an Obama administration plan to double or triple Tricare medical premiums for active-duty and retired military personnel.

The sharply higher prices reportedly are designed to push service members and veterans out of the military's Tricare program and into Obamacare's insurance exchanges. The administration believes the move will cut Tricare costs by $1.8 billion in fiscal 2013 and $12.9 billion by 2017.

In a complete turnaround, a Senate committee on Monday restored the original language of a bill that would prohibit the state from distributing Social Security numbers.

The Senate Rules Committee, on a motion by Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, stripped out an amendment that would have permitted the release of partial numbers, with the last four digits redacted.

Florida's "anti-Sharia" legislation received some added impetus last week when a Pennsylvania court bowed to Islamic sensibilities and acquitted a Muslim defendant of assault.

Magistrate Judge Mark Martin recited religious and cultural customs to dismiss a harassment case against a Muslim man who assaulted an atheist activist at a Halloween parade.

The victim, Ernest Perce, wore a Zombie Mohammed costume and pretended to walk among the dead.

Two more Republicans have jumped in to challenge Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fort Lauderdale, and Broward County's GOP chairman says a "spirited primary" will help the party "put our best foot forward."

Gineen Bresso and Juan Eliel Garcia joined the Republican contest in the 23rd Congressional District, bringing the number of GOP hopefuls there to six.

Previously announced candidates, as reported by Sunshine State News, are Karen Harrington, Joe Goldner, Joe Kaufman and Ozzie DeFaria.

Two Democrats with similar politics but differing styles are vying for their party's nomination in the South Florida congressional district being vacated by Republican Rep. Allen West.

As redrawn, CD 22 has turned bluer and West opted this month to head north to the new 18th Congressional District on the Treasure Coast.

By phasing out a program that authorizes local law-enforcement agencies to assist federal immigration authorities, President Barack Obama is "surrendering the battlefield," says state Rep. Will Snyder.

Snyder, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and is running for sheriff in Martin County, called the administration's decision to defund the collaborative program "extremely unfortunate and very disappointing."