With immigration emerging as one of the chief issues in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination -- and trying to catch up with front-runner Rick Scott -- Attorney General Bill McCollum sponsored a motion at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting for state offices to use E-Verify to ensure that no illegal aliens are hired.

The Republican Party of Florida announced on Wednesday that their chairman, Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, would be hosting a dinner in September at Lake Buena Vista with the GOP candidates for statewide office and former RNC boss and possible 2012 presidential hopeful, Gov.

Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul issued a ringing statement Tuesday, accusing Gov. Charlie Crist of unnecessarily wasting taxpayers' money, playing political games and distracting state leaders from solving the state's real problems right now.

Responding to questions from state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Commissioner Kevin McCarty offered a presentation to the Cabinet on Tuesday on what his office has done about two financially unstable insurance companies.

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has  the money to weather almost any major hurricane to strike the state, the chief financial officer of Florida’s state-run insurance company told the governor and his cabinet.

In a presentation Tuesday, Citizens CFO Sharon Binnun revealed the company is in a better financial position than it has ever been.

Citizens has $14 billion to pay claims in 2010, $11 billion in cash and assets, and $3.9 billion in surplus to stay afloat if a catastrophe occurs.

Age: 62

Residence: Greenville

Time in the Legislature: Two years

Political Affiliation: Democrat

Spouse: Susan

Florida's $100-billion-plus agriculture industry, second only to tourism, is one powerful economic engine. And, Saturday -- declared National Ag Day by Congress -- is a good day to remember that agriculture in the Sunshine State is a formidable employer and an even more impressive producer.