Gov. Rick Scott continues to have a busy first month in office. He touched base with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal in a telephone call on Friday before heading off to Orlando to speak to the Florida Realtors Forum in Orlando. Earlier in the week, he met with golf legend Jack Nicklaus …

After stalling in the afternoon, the U.S. House voted just after midnight Friday to extend tax cuts initially backed by George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003 for all Americans. The bill, which also extends jobless benefits, now moves to President Barack Obama’s desk.

On Wednesday, the Florida Chamber of Commerce announced that former House Speaker Larry Cretul will be the staff director of the Chamber’s board of governors program.

A red tide swept over Florida and most of the nation this week as Republicans romped in an Election Day repudiation of Washington that trickled down to Tallahassee, leaving Democrats singing the blues.

The race for Florida House District 36 can be read as an exact replica of how Republicans would like to see elections all over the country fall: a political newcomer takes on a two-term incumbent in a Democratic district and rides a Republican wave to an upset.