Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Diane RobertsJanuary 29, 2016

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – The Legislature’s Banana Republicans will not rest until Florida starts to be like El Salvador, minus the delicious pupusas. Abortion is illegal in El Salvador — no exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. Anyone who has an abortion, anyone who performs an abortion, can be jailed for murder. […]

Bill RuftyJanuary 20, 2016

The Florida Senate Banking and Insurance Committee passed a bill Tuesday by Sen. Kelli Stargel, a Lakeland Republican, protecting creditors from being sued or fined for continued harassing debt collection calls if the person owing the debt or their attorney fails to provide certain notice at a specific location. The vote was 7 to 3 in […]

Bill RuftyJanuary 19, 2016

A hearing late Tuesday afternoon before the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee could mark a Session-long fight over Florida’s consumer protection laws that relate to bill collectors harassing people, and to hospitals finding themselves caught in a scam and paying a high penalty for a purposefully mismailed complaint. A bill by Sen. Kelli Stargel, a […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 14, 2016

Hours after the House moved its own legislation reining in the state’s oversight body for high school athletics, the Senate on Thursday heard its own versions, moving forward two competing reforms. The PreK-12 Education Committee, chaired by GOP state Sen. John Legg, approved both SB 1026 and SB 684, both aimed at changing the way the Florida High School Athletic Association […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2016

The Florida Senate’s bronze seal, which usually hangs behind the Senate President’s lectern, was removed this week not only to replace the seal’s depiction of the Confederate flag but also in anticipation of still more design changes, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. In October, the Senate decided to remove a Confederate flag from the chamber’s official seal and replace […]

Staff ReportsDecember 21, 2015

Two Republican lawmakers are joining the Department of Economic Opportunity in the fight against unemployment-benefits fraud. State Sen. Kelli Stargel of Lakeland and state Rep. Mike La Rosa of St. Cloud on Monday filed legislation (SB 1216/HB 1017) called the “DEO Cybercrime Prevention Act.” “In the past two years, DEO’s state-of-the-art technology has prevented more than 135,000 […]

Mitch PerryDecember 10, 2015

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will be in Tampa on Friday night for a fundraiser, but it’s not for his own struggling presidential campaign. The GOP presidential contender will be appearing at the Centre Club in Tampa in an event for the Republican Party of Florida. Among the Republicans who are scheduled to attend include […]

Drew WilsonOctober 31, 2015

Early committee finance numbers for Republican Sens. Jack Latvala and Joe Negron show the two rivals for Senate President are as close as ever in fundraising. Latvala’s outfit, Florida Leadership Committee, entered October with a little more than $1.6 million on-hand, and the committee should get a little boost above that mark once final reports […]

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2015

Two Republican state senators have filed omnibus education legislation that, among other things, would ease eligibility requirements to play in high school athletics. Sens. Don Gaetz of Niceville and Kelli Stargel of Lakeland filed the 25-page bill (SB 684) on Friday for the 2016 Legislative Session. Lawmakers have filed legislation five years in a row aimed at the Florida […]

Tag: Kelli Stargel
The Yankees organization is generous with Helene relief in Florida. Image via AP.

Alimony bill back before House lawmakers

Diane Roberts: Legislature following El Salvador’s lead on abortion

Bill protecting creditors from lawsuits advances

Threats to consumers? Or threats to hospitals?

Competing high-school athletics bills moving in Senate

State Senate seal could be changing – again

Anti-fraud measures filed for 2016 session

Jeb Bush to appear at RPOF fundraiser in Tampa on Friday

Fundraising reports show Senate rivals Jack Latvala, Joe Negron close as ever

Far-reaching high school athletics bill filed in Senate