Social and religious conservative groups filed a motion to intervene in Pareto v. Rubin, a Miami-Dade case where six same-sex couples are looking to overturn Floridas state constitutional amendment which defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. A majority of voters -- 62 percent -- passed that amendment back in 2008.

Noting that 54,000 seniors in Manatee and Sarasota counties are covered in Medicare Advantage, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla, wrote to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Marilyn Tavenner on Tuesday. The Obama administration revealed last week that Medicare Advantage funds would be used to cover the costs of President Barack Obamas federal health-care law. Buchanans letter reads as follows:

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee, ripped into President Barack Obamas federal health-care law, insisting it hurts small businesses. Bilirakis pointed to a report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Actuary.