The Florida Chamber of Commerce has unveiled a new radio ad, comparing events in Florida to the struggle over state union employee benefits in Wisconsin.

State officials, led by Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi, have reached an agreement with federal Claims Czar Kenneth Feinberg on reforming the claims process resulting from the oil spill that plagued the Sunshine State last year.

Floridas tourism, fishing and seafood industries are still feeling the impacts of last summers disaster almost a year later, said Scott. Mr. Feinberg agrees that its time to get to work and implement a streamlined, fair and effective way of paying these claims for Floridians.

A bill that would ramp up Florida's ethics rules and penalties for lawmakers has been filed by Sen. Mike Fasano.

Senate Bill 1484 would increase the cap on civil law penalties from $10,000 to $100,000 and allow the Ethics Commission to investigate ethics violations on its own instead of waiting to hear complaints. Also, it calls on the governor and Cabinet officials to put their assets into a blind trust in order to eliminate conflicts of interest.

Republican opposition to Gov. Rick Scott's decision to reject federal money for high-speed rail money, and the obligations tied to it, is weakening.

On Feb 17, a dozen GOP senators signed a letter supporting the federal funding, and sent it to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, cited that letter as support for his lawsuit against the governor's decision. But more than one senator is having second thoughts about the issue.