Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 28, 2016

The River of Grass needs a steady flow of funding. That’s the message environmental and conservation activists are hoping to send to lawmakers on Thursday during the annual Everglades Action Day. “The focus this year is a funding mechanism,” said Jason Totoiu, the co-chairman of the Everglades Coalition, made up of 61 environmental and conservation […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 18, 2016

The assault on Florida’s environment continues as a Senate committee last week approved a bill that would make it easier for petroleum companies to use fracking technology to extract oil and gas in the state. Lest we forget, the administration of Gov. Rick Scott has ordered the words “climate change” scrubbed from official speeches and […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 12, 2016

Brute force is one way things get done in politics. If a party has an overwhelming majority in the legislative and executive branches, it can simply ram everything through. But the Founding Fathers deliberately made it difficult. Therefore, both left and right seek compromise, where possible. In the last session of the Florida Legislature, there […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 3, 2016

As we head into the New Year, the Florida Legislature has a hefty agenda to tackle in 2016. Session begins Jan. 12 and runs for 60 days or nine weeks, until March 11. Committee meetings have been held since last September, bringing the total time for the 2016 session to 15 weeks. As with every session, […]

Phil AmmannDecember 17, 2015

Everglades restoration will receive a substantial financial boost, thanks to bills filed by a pair Republican lawmakers Thursday. As first reported by LobbyTools, state Sen. Joe Negron and state Rep. Gayle Harrell, both of Stuart, submitted proposals (HB 989 and SB 1168) that seek to dedicate $200 million a year to Everglades restoration projects. The […]

Peter SchorschDecember 1, 2015

The Everglades Foundation, Audubon Florida, the Nature Conservancy, and the H2O Coalition of the Associated Industries of Florida. What do all of these political players have in common? They scored a massive victory Tuesday all thanks to the Florida House of Representatives. A loud symphony of applause came in the form of a three-page news release where countless groups praised and thanked […]

Associated PressDecember 1, 2015

The Florida House wants to dedicate as much as $200 million a year on projects to help restore the state’s fabled Everglades. House Republicans on Tuesday announced their “Legacy Florida” initiative. It would require that each year that the state set aside conservation money for a variety of Everglades restoration projects. The list would include […]

Diane RobertsOctober 29, 2015

LBJ declared the War on Poverty; the GOP waged a War on Women; the state of Florida has never ceased its War on Nature. The latest front: Bears! How often have you come home from a hard day of flipping carcino-burgers at the local McWendyking’s, slaving away at the phosphate plant or working at the […]

Diane RobertsOctober 28, 2015

LBJ declared the War on Poverty; the GOP waged a War on Women; the state of Florida has never ceased its War on Nature. The latest front: Bears! How often have you come home from a hard day of flipping carcino-burgers at the local McWendyking’s, slaving away at the phosphate plant or working at the […]

Sally SwartzOctober 20, 2015

About 150 of James Hutchinson’s friends braved a stormy night in Stuart last week to hear their favorite celebrated artist talk about living with the Seminoles and Miccosukees half a century ago. Hutchinson’s paintings from those six years, well known statewide and nationally, capture not only a gone-forever way of life, but also the disappearing […]

Tag: Everglades

On Everglades Action Day, environmental groups to urge lawmakers to set aside money for restoration projects

Marc Yacht: State moves fracking regulation bill forward

Lloyd Brown: Special interests balking at a fair compromise on water bill

Matt Caldwell: Legislative Session busy from start

Joe Negron, Gayle Harrell file bills to give $200 million boost to Everglades restoration

Environmental community scores big in Florida House on Tuesday

Florida House: Use conservation money on Everglades

Diane Roberts: Watch out, you bears, and hold your water

Diane Roberts: Watch out, you bears, and hold your water

Sally Swartz: Accomplished artist recalls life with Seminoles, Miccosukees