With Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, facing term limits in 2014, Colleen Burton has emerged as a strong contender to replace him in the Florida House to represent parts of Polk County.

After defeating Frank Bruno in 2012, Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, started off with impressive fundraising in the first quarter of 2013 but her pace slowed considerably in the second quarter. Hukill raised more than $77,000 in the first quarter of 2013 and spent around $1,250. The second quarter was a different story as Hukill raised $15,000 and spent around $7,070.

Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, did not exactly impress with his fundraising at the start of 2013. Between Jan. 22 and when the Legislature convened in early March, he raised $18,000, loaned his campaign $1,500 and spent around $4,570.

Simmons clearly ramped up his efforts in the second quarter of 2013. Between when the Legislature adjourned in early May and June 30, Simmons reeled in $84,810 and spent around $4,850.

With Gov. Rick Perry of Texas announcing earlier on Monday that he would not seek another term, Gov. Rick Scott praised his record in Austin.

On Monday, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas announced that he would not seek another term. Perry had been serving as governor since George W. Bush became president in 2001. This makes Perry the longest serving governor in Texas history. The time has come to pass on the mantle of leadership, Perry said at a media event in San Antonio on Monday.

The second quarter of 2013 fundraising reports for candidates for the Florida Legislature are starting to trickle out -- and two Republican incumbents representing parts of the First Coast underwhelmed in that period. While members of the Legislature are prohibited from raising during session, neither Rep. Doc Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra, nor Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, did much in the way of fundraising during the entire period.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., joined with U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., to write a piece in The Hill on why tax breaks for higher education costs need to be reformed.

Rubio and Schock bring in their personal experiences as to why the reform needs to be enacted:

On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott took part in a ribbon-cutting for Advanced Disposals corporate headquarters expansion in Ponte Vedra. With the waste service companys move to St. Johns County, there will be 85 new jobs and $4 million more capital on the First Coast.

Rep. Ross Spano, R-Riverview, announced he was backing Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Vice Chairman Blaise Ingoglia to replace Rep. Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill, in the Florida House.

"Blaise Ingoglia has a long history of holding government accountable and being a fiscal watchdog," Spano said in a statement. "I am looking forward to having him join me in Tallahassee fighting for responsible, accountable government and fiscal restraint. I am pleased to endorse his candidacy for state representative, District 35."

With the Department of Defense holding a gay pride event in Afghanistan last week, former Congressman Allen West, who has opened the door to a political comeback, ripped into the Obama administration for backing the event -- while discouraging public expressions of Christian faith in the armed forces.