Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux released the following statement Wednesday afternoon on House Speaker Dean Cannon's announcement that a committee will decide the presidential primary date:

In a time of fiscal crisis, Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon are wasting tax money on something that shouldn't be an issue.

Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon announced during a media telephone conference Wednesday that Reps. Seth McKeel and Dennis Baxley will introduce an amendment Thursday creating a 10-member committee to choose Florida's much-debated presidential primary date.

Cannon said the amendment has the support of Senate President Mike Haridopolos.

The amendment stipulates that three each of the committee's members will be appointed by the House, the Senate and the governor's office. The 10th member, the secretary of state, will serve as chairman.

Sen. Bill Nelson's campaign confirmed Wednesday that he willreport having $4.5 million to$5 million in the bank for his re-election bid.

"Word on the street among campaign consultants isthat Nelson will reportraising more this quarter than any other elected Democrat in the Senate, except for New York's U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who reportedly raised$3 million," the campaign said in a statement.

Campaign-finance numbers for Nelson's first announced GOP challenger, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, were not yet available.

On Wednesday, pro-life activist and Democratic presidential candidate Randall Terry, best known for founding Operation Rescue, slammed Republican leadership in Washington for keeping federal funding of Planned Parenthood.

While Terry said that U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, should be commended for cutting off federal funds for abortion in Washington, D.C., he found little else to cheer in the recent budget agreements.