Obamacare opponents have been raising red flags around this issue for some time, but today the IRS has finally issued preliminary guidelines for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The legislation is expected to cost America tens of thousands of jobs, while also sending some high-end industries overseas. There’s more from the IRS available at the links in text below.

By Michael Peltier, The News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge on Friday ruled that four senators and two staff members do not have to testify as part of lawsuit challenging a new Florida election law that opponents say makes it more difficult for some voters to cast ballots.

The Florida House voted along party lines for three redistricting maps Friday that proponents say reflect the state’s growing diversity and meet new anti-gerrymandering standards.

But Democrats, who united in opposition in the 80-38 votes, said the proposals are unconstitutional because they manipulate political boundaries for Republican advantage, particularly a Senate map that appears to protect every returning incumbent.

The Florida House voted along party lines for three redistricting maps Friday that proponents say reflect the state’s growing diversity and meet new anti-gerrymandering standards.

But Democrats, who united in opposition in the 80-38 votes, said the proposals are unconstitutional because they manipulate political boundaries for Republican advantage, particularly a Senate map that appears to protect every returning incumbent.

A quirky community bike shop nestled in an art community between FSU and FAMU shows people how to work on bikes--and how to have fun. If you're in Tallahassee, they have a bike waiting for you for cheaper than you might expect. For more, see http://www.krankitup.info/

An end-of-the-week appointment by Gov. Rick Scott to the Florida Prepaid College Board ordinarily would not draw much notice. But in the frenzied atmosphere surrounding prison privatization in Tallahassee, this one will generate a lot of talk in the Capitol.

A spectator looks on at the tens of thousands of paper cutouts of childrens' hands and other artwork put up at the beginning of Children's Week in the Capitol rotunda on Monday afternoon. (Matthew Riva/The Miami Herald)

A spectator looks on at the tens of thousands of paper cutouts of childrens' hands and other artwork put up at the beginning of Children's Week in the Capitol rotunda on Monday afternoon. (Matthew Riv

President Obama’s EPA usually has a bad habit of kicking American industry when it’s down by dumping on them with unnecessary regulations, regardless of what business leaders say the effects will be.

In a narrow vote on Friday, Florida's House passed a bill that would allow so-called “surplus lines” carriers to take over policies from Citizens Property Insurance, if they meet certain criteria.

Surplus lines carriers are not regulated by the Office of Insurance Regulation and can differ greatly from the state’s admitted insurers, a point that opponents of the bill pushed repeatedly.

In a narrow vote on Friday, Florida's House passed a bill that would allow so-called “surplus lines” carriers to take over policies from Citizens Property Insurance, if they meet certain criteria.

Surplus lines carriers are not regulated by the Office of Insurance Regulation and can differ greatly from the state’s admitted insurers, a point that opponents of bill pushed repeatedly.

TALLAHASSEE — Sen. Paula Dockery of Lakeland is asking Senate leaders pushing a prison privatization plan to cough up the per-prisoner costs for the private prisons already operating in the state.

Jeb Bush Jr., who last fall signed on as a Florida heavy-hitter in the Jon Huntsman for President campaign, has allied himself with a new candidate now that Huntsman pulled the plug on his candidacy. The younger son and namesake of the former Florida governor has been named the state co-chair of the U.S. Senate campaign of U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV.

Just when you thought the University of South Florida Polytechnic debate had quieted down...

A USF Poly board member who had spoken out in support of splitting the campus away from the USF mothership has resigned from the board, claiming that USF's leadership is trying to dismantle independence efforts.

Wednesday night, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R.3567; The Welfare Integrity Now for Children and Families Act of 2011; which makes it illegal to use an EBT card in a strip club, liquor store or casino. The concern began, shortly after welfare recipients were issued funds electronically through ATMs, when Welfare Reform passed in 1996. Since then there has been a disturbing trend of welfare not being spent on the things people think welfare should be spent on.