Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, now in a crowded Republican primary looking to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, said on Wednesday that Senate Democrats remain a major obstacle to passing a federal balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

Republican presidential hopeful U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas scoreda major endorsement in New Hampshire, which holds the first presidential primary on Jan. 10. On Wednesday, state Sen. Ray White, R-Bedford, announced that he is backing Paul.

Unlike the other candidates, Ron Paul has been singing the same tune for years -- going back to his first term in Congress, said White in a statement. He has understood and tried to warn us for decades about the economic crisis we now face, and he is the only candidate who understands the gravity of the situation.

Nearly 4.8 million Floridians, 1.2 percent more than a year ago, will do some traveling for the year-end holidays. But fewer will be flying.

The vast majority will be on the road, either driving (4.35 million) or riding a bus (183,859), according to AAA, the auto club group.

Meanwhile, air travel, which will be the primary method of travel for 261,487, is down 11 percent from a year ago.

Part of the decrease in air travel is that Americans are traveling fewer miles for the holiday, with the average trip being 726 miles, down from 1,052 a year ago.

There are at least 158 lobbyists focused on the destination gaming bill and other gambling issues now before the state Legislature, according to the Capitol News Service.

Reports put total lobbying expenditures well over $2 million for the year, the Capitol News Service reported.