Last week’s shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport hasn’t put a dent in Sen. Greg Steube’s plan to allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry their firearms in airports. In fact, it’s only strengthened his resolve to pass the legislation, which he says is desperately needed to prevent future mass shootings in the Sunshine State. 

With Republicans in Congress kicking over repealing and replacing President Barack Obama’s federal health-care law, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., tapped a Florida Republican to serve on a committee overseeing much of that issue. 

Republican challenger for state party chair Christian Ziegler denies he is running a "scorched earth" campaign, as some committee men and women around the state complain.

"Why would I do that?" Ziegler asked me Tuesday night. "I know we all have to come together and be friends and work for victory when this is over."

Exactly. 

Certainly that is the hope. 

House members are expected to consider how they would cut the state budget by anywhere from $1.1 billion to $2.2 billion as part of an exercise toward making the next spending plan balanced.

Plans for the exercises were unveiled Tuesday by House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, as he tried to stress the chamber's message that the state budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1, will be incredibly tight.

"Our spending pattern is unsustainable, and this is the time to address it," Trujillo said.