Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bill RuftyMay 24, 2016

A fundraiser for Sam Killebrew, Republican primary candidate for Florida House District 41, is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m., Thursday at the home of Harriet and Dean Boring, 2112 Hawthorne Trail, in Lakeland. Killebrew, retired contractor and a GOP fundraiser and activist, is competing with retired appellate Judge Charles Davis for the party’s nomination. The winner […]

Phil AmmannMay 9, 2016

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off and on: Maggie Mickler is no longer press secretary for the Senate Majority Leader’s office. She has become director of communications at the Department of Management Services. On: LaQuisha Persak has become the new […]

Jim RosicaApril 4, 2016

State Sen. Kelli Stargel on Monday said Governor Rick Scott now has “all the information he needs” on her bill to overhaul the state’s alimony system. The measure (SB 668) was the final bill of the 2016 Legislative Session to be sent to Scott for review. It was delivered to his office after Stargel, a Lakeland Republican, briefly […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 8, 2016

The Florida Senate is poised to vote on a controversial bill that prohibits public funding for clinics, like Planned Parenthood, that are affiliated with a licensed abortion clinic. Lawmakers began discussions of the measure (HB 1411) on Tuesday. The proposal, sponsored by Lakeland Republicans Sen. Kelli Stargel in the Senate and Rep. Colleen Burton in […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 24, 2016

The Senate’s alimony overhaul bill cleared its second review panel Wednesday, though it was again rushed through in the remaining minutes of a committee hearing. The Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice OK’d the bill (SB 668), aimed of getting rid of “forever alimony,” on a 5-2 party-line vote. As in its first hearing in the Judiciary […]

Ryan RayFebruary 17, 2016

After nearly an hour of at times emotional debate on Wednesday, a Senate budget panel approved a controversial proposal to prohibit public funds from going to any facility that provides abortions. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Health & Human Services passed SB 1722 by a party-line vote Wednesday morning, with the eight-member panel’s three Democrats voting in […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2016

A contentious bill meant to remake what critics call Florida’s antiquated alimony law and end “forever alimony” was cleared Tuesday by a Senate panel. The Judiciary Committee, the first of its three review panels, OK’d the measure (SB 668) by a 6-4 vote after impassioned comment for and against the proposal, even after speakers were limited […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 9, 2016

A bill that would restrict abortion providers is heading to the House floor. The measure (HB 1411) cleared the House Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Colleen Burton, a Lakeland Republican, requires doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at a local hospital. The bill also prohibits state agencies, […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 4, 2016

A bill aimed at effectively ending permanent alimony is heading to the House floor after clearing its final committee of reference on Thursday. The Judiciary Committee approved the measure (HB 455), sponsored by Republican state Rep. Colleen Burton of Lakeland, by a 14-3 vote. Chiefly, the measure limits judges’ discretion in awarding alimony by providing guidelines for how much an ex-spouse should get and […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 4, 2016

The House bill aimed at overhauling the state’s alimony rules is coming before its last committee before possibly heading to the floor. The Judiciary Committee will consider the bill (HB 455), sponsored by Republican state Rep. Colleen Burton of Lakeland, on Thursday. Among other things, Burton’s bill “effectively end(s) permanent alimony” by limiting judges’ discretion in awarding alimony after a […]

Tag: Colleen Burton
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HD 41 candidate Sam Killebrew to hold Lakeland fundraiser Thursday

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Kelli Stargel meets with Rick Scott on alimony bill

Senate begins discussion on bill that could defund Planned Parenthood

Alimony bill clears 2nd committee in Senate

Senate panel advances bill to defund abortion providers

Amid jeers, Senate alimony bill clears first committee

Bill restricting abortion providers now headed to House floor

House alimony reform clears final panel

Alimony bill back before House lawmakers