Renzo Downey
Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed legislation to address water quality in Lake Okeechobee, a priority of Senate President Wilton Simpson.
DeSantis, who issued a rare policy statement during the recent Legislative Session criticizing the initial version of the bill (SB 2508), said he vetoed the proposal after complaints from environmental groups. The Republican Governor announced the move Wednesday in Fort Myers Beach as he announced the approval of environmental and Everglades initiatives.
“I’ve heard you. We have vetoed that today,” DeSantis said.
The bill was a priority of Simpson, a Trilby Republican who is running for Agriculture Commissioner. It was also sponsored by Sen. Ben Albritton, a Wauchula Republican who is in line to become Senate President in 2024.
“We want to continue going on the path that we set out in January of 2019, and we don’t want anything to derail us from that, and I think there (were) a lot of people that put a lot of good input in, very, very passionate folks,” DeSantis said. “We hear you, and we’re going to continue on the course that we started a little over three years ago.”
When lawmakers made their final change to the bill in the closing days of the 2022 Regular Session in an effort to satisfy DeSantis and dissidents, the measure already required that water shortages within the Lake Okeechobee Region be managed under rules set up by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Language added to the bill in the final draft looked to give DeSantis and state lawmakers a say in any potential changes to those rules.
The bill also required the SFWMD “to certify that its recommendations to the United States Army Corps of Engineers comply with all district programs and plans” and “provide the certification before funds are released.” The latest version “clarifies that the certification and approval of modifications to plans does not constitute final agency action,” according to a document laying out the Senate’s offer.
The bill as originally written sought to ensure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did not reduce the amount of water available to “existing legal users.” But Albritton later amended the legislation to ensure that latter language did not impact SB 10, a 2017 law giving flexibility on how water can be moved throughout the region.
According to the Treasure Coast Newspapers’ Max Chesnes, who was the first to report the veto, DeSantis wrote in his decision that the bill may impact the timeline of Everglades projects and plans.
“While the bill that was ultimately passed by the Legislature is an improvement over what was initially filed, SB 2508 still creates unnecessary and redundant regulatory hurdles which may compromise the timely execution and implementation of Everglades restoration projects, water control plans and regulation schedules,” DeSantis wrote.
Critics claimed the bill would have prioritized the sugar industry to the detriment of the environment and other water users. Those opponents made a strong showing during legislative committee meetings this year.
“You can’t mess around with Everglades restoration or any of our major conservation programs and expect no one to notice,” Florida Conservation Voters (FCV) lobbyist Jonathan Webber said in a statement.
“FCV and many other environmental organizations sounded the alarm during the Legislative Session about the problems with SB 2508. Since then, thousands of Floridians have sent emails and letters urging a veto of this bad bill. The Governor made the right decision today, and hopefully, this will be a signal to lawmakers to stop using legislative tricks to sneak harmful environmental policy past the Florida public. We are watching.”
On Thursday, DeSantis approved $500 million in the $109.9 billion budget for the Everglades, including $352.6 million for the state-federal Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan that includes the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Project. The funds helped push the state beyond his goal of $2.5 billion in Everglades spending with his fourth budget signed as Governor.
“There is no better friend of the Everglades than Ron DeSantis,” Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg Wednesday.
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Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics contributed to this report.
4 comments
Tom
June 8, 2022 at 11:22 pm
No surprise, America’s Governor’s does not disappoint once again, as he vetoed the lousy state appropriation for Tampa spring training stadium. Which was presented as a canard to have it built on taxpayers dime.
Today, Governor Ron holds true and protects Florida’s environment and extra efforts to rehabilitate Lake O. His commitment to protecting and enhancing all of Florida’s natural resources and waterways is A one!
The best Florida Governor on environmental issues in 40 years. It’s a very high a bar he has set. Disgracefully and with embarrassment Sierra club endorsed chameleon crispy critters.
America’s Gov has directed his budget with legislative approval, over 2.5 billion towards Everglades restoration. This veto ensures greater continued commitment to enhanced Everglades reservoirs.
This is a continued civics lesson for Manchurian Dums, who sound like barking seals in ignorance. They don’t understand the legislative process. They’ll criticize this veto but like the Tampa stadium veto this stands on its own merits. Wonderful civics lesson shared by Gov Ron.
tom palmer
June 9, 2022 at 12:43 am
Yes, it was Gov. Bob Graham who started the Everglades restoration and it was good news that Gov. DeSantis vetoed the bill. Sierra Club did request the veto, but has been unhappy with the rest of DeSantis’ actions that they contend fall short in addressing water quality, climate change, conservation land funding and growth management. .His latest overall grade by Sierra was a D-.
Tom
June 9, 2022 at 7:30 am
Sierra suffers, chameleon will lose.
Gov Ron has drawn the line and invested in Florida’s waterways and Lakes, second to none Palmer.
Sierra giving a Rep D-, in reality that’s a C plus or B minus. Sierra is hostile to Repub. As a Repub. DeSantis is an A as example on Florida environment.
What is important is Florida’s environmental groups. They appear to support the Govs efforts to protect.
Gov Veto Corleone strikes again.
Just saying.
Tom
June 9, 2022 at 7:32 pm
If you were candid Palmer and honest you would be open and support the Govs efforts. You should be willing to embrace good public action.
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