UPDATED Marco Rubio on highway bill: "Spends too much" and "relies on accounting gimmicks"

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was the lone Gulf State senator to vote against the two-year re-authorization of a transportation bill that also addresses student loan interest rates and directs billions of dollars in BP oil spill fines to Florida and other states harmed by the spill.

The bill passed Friday in the Senate 74-19; it passed 373-52 in the House and is on its way to the president.

All the other Republican senators from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi supported it, and Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., voted for it. "This is going to send billions of dollars in fines against BP directly to Florida and the other Gulf Coast states that were harmed by the oil spill," Nelson said.

As has become customary, Rubio offers a lengthy explanation for his "no" vote. He says he opposed it because it lumps in "a wide range of unrelated ideas into one giant bill."

"As a result, I voted against final passage because, while it contains some policies I support and that are good for Florida and our nation, as a whole, the bill spends too much and relies on budget gimmicks as spending offsets that will ultimately lead to a federal bailout down the road," he said.

UPDATE: Five Florida House Republicans, including Senate candidate Connie Mack, voted against the bill. They are Reps. Sandy Adams, Dennis Ross, Rich Nugent and Bill Posey.

Scott appoints new DMS head

Gov. Rick Scott appointed Craig J. Nichols as the new secretary for the Department of Management Services, the state's administrative arm.

“As we work during the next two years to launch major productivity and efficiency initiatives, Craig will bring to the agency a combination of large-organization experience, strong operational and strategic focus, and executive leadership,” Scott said in a press release. “I am confident his corporate experience will ensure state government remains focused on making Florida the best state for the private sector to grow and create jobs.”

Nichols replaces Jack Miles, who resigned in February.

Report: Florida ranks 4th in child welfare

Florida's child welfare system is among the best in the country for reducing abuse in foster care and responding quickly to abuse allegations, according to a free-market think tank report released today.

The state, which delivers foster care and related services through private community agencies, was ranked as the country's 4th best child welfare system overall, says the report, which uses federal data compiled by the Foundation for Government Accountability.

"Child welfare is a very emotional business, by definition, but it's also important to run it like a business," said David Wilkins, secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families. "Because you have to have accountability, you have to have metrics, and you have to measure those metrics and always demand improved and better performance."