Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMarch 31, 2018

The vernal equinox has come and gone, and we all know what that means — Easter is here. So grab a basket, don the seersucker and start painting those eggs. The holiday once again made it into April, though just barely. Despite not getting as late a date as last year, Easter is still expected […]

Bill RuftyJuly 3, 2017

Remember former Sen. J.D. Alexander, the Lake Wales Republican who almost single-handedly created Florida Polytechnic University by use of his power as Senate Appropriations chair? Alexander has been out of the Senate for almost five years, but it would appear that the old power cell is still charged and ready to zap when needed. Polk […]

Bill RuftyJune 21, 2017

Republican Legislators could find themselves challenged for election next year … by Republican candidates, Polk County Commissioner George Lindsey, a Lakeland Republican, confirmed Wednesday. In an interview before his address to the Polk Tiger Bay members, Lindsey said what he described as legislators’ attacks on home rule and local government, has many even in the […]

Staff ReportsJune 1, 2017

The voting record report is out. Associated Industries of Florida released its 2017 Voting Record report. Published for more than four decades, the annual report is considered one of the definitive legislative scorecards for the business community. This year, the organization calculated more than 208,966 votes on 1,955 bills with 848 legislators. “This session, AIF […]

Scott PowersApril 17, 2017

An effort to create a new model for water protection in Polk County got an enthusiastic approval Monday from the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. Committee Substitute for House Bill 573, sponsored by state Rep. Colleen Burton would create a regional authority aiming to coordinate water projects in the critical Green Swamp region in Polk […]

Jim RosicaMarch 30, 2017

Good news for opponents of this year’s alimony overhaul, and bad news for its supporters: The bills are dead for the year. Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, the Naples Republican who’s carrying the Senate version (SB 412), on Wednesday said the chair of its first committee of reference has refused to hear the bill. Rene Garcia chairs the Committee on […]

Jim RosicaMarch 5, 2017

Get ready for a rumble: Lawmakers will again tackle the sticky issue of alimony in the 2017 Legislative Session. Companion bills filed in the House and Senate aim to overhaul state alimony law to toughen the standards by which alimony is granted and changed. That’s despite unsuccessful tries in the last few years. Neither bill […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 20, 2017

Update: State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican, on Friday filed the Senate companion to the House bill, which she says is identical save for “a few punctuation differences.” State Rep. Colleen Burton will try again to overhaul the state’s alimony law, filing a bill on Wednesday. The Lakeland Republican still aims to toughen the standards by which alimony is […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 18, 2016

They haven’t been sworn into office yet, but that isn’t stopping a few newly elected state lawmakers from thinking about 2018. State elections records show about more than two dozen members of the state House and Senate filed have filed to run for re-election. Many of those lawmakers are incumbents who faced little-to-no opposition this […]

Bill RuftyJune 3, 2016

Republican incumbents Congressman Dennis Ross, State Sen. Kelli Stargel, and state Rep. Colleen Burton, all from Lakeland, will participate in a voter canvass by the Republican Party of Florida. Republican canvassers will meet Saturday, June 11, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. beginning in Room 104 of the Ordway Building at Florida Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland. In […]

Tag: Colleen Burton
This exhibit celebrates late-blooming artistry, proving it’s never too late for bold creativity.

Easter and Passover as brought to you by these lobbyists and political associations

J.D. Alexander rides again to save Polk County arts center

Polk GOP Commissioner warns Republican incumbents may face strong challenges

Associated Industries releases 2017 Voting Record report

Bill to create ‘Polk Regional Water Cooperative’ gets committee approval

Alimony legislation dead for 2017, sponsor says

2017 Legislative Session preview: Alimony rears its head

Alimony reform bill filed for 2017

Dozens of state lawmakers file to run for re-election in 2018

Lakeland Republican incumbents to voter canvass June 11