If Newt Gingrich were being nominated for sainthood, many of us would vote very differently from the way we would vote if he were being nominated for a political office.

Where else in the U.S. does the press corps insist on man-to-man coverage at the governor's dinner table? -- a tweet from Scott Communications Director Brian Burgess. (Jan. 29.)

"There is this pesky thing called a Constitution that limits authority. I still believe the genius of America isn't just democracy but its divided government and limitations on each individual's ability to act unilaterally." -- Sen. J.D. Alexander, expressing what was a common refrain around the state Capitol after Scott put the brakes on the bullet train. (Feb. 19.)

Debates over immigration got the year underway and gambling was the focus as fall turned to winter for Floridas leaders.

Meanwhile, transportation -- ports, trains and rocket ships -- and the potential economic impacts tied in with them stood out across the state, filled the Internet, TV, and even the once-dominant means of communication: newspapers.

But when it all came down to it, the top business item was the seemingly single-minded focus of the governor: jobs.

Slow, steady private-sector job growth.