Bruce Ritchie, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieMarch 19, 2015

Environmental groups supporting Amendment 1 on Thursday criticized a Senate chairman’s spending proposal that provides $22 million for land acquisition. Amendment 1, approved by 75% of Florida voters in November, provides an estimated $741.8 million in fiscal 2015-16 for water and land conservation programs. Sen. Alan Hays, chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 19, 2015

A Senate appropriations subcommittee chairman on Thursday presented a budget proposal that provides $22 million for land acquisition, prompting another Republican subcommittee member to charge that the proposal violated Amendment 1. Amendment 1 is a conservation spending initiative approved by 75% of voters in November. In 2015-16, the measure will provide $741.8 million, or 33% […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 18, 2015

Senators on a panel that pored over a House water bill on Wednesday said they’re going to want a detailed plan for cleaning up waterways in whatever legislation passes the Senate. HB 7003 recognizes the Central Florida Water Initiative in state law while eliminating a South Florida Water Management District farm-permitting program for Lake Okeechobee […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 18, 2015

Environmental groups supporting the purchase of 46,000 acres of U.S. Sugar Corp. land launched on Wednesday commercials and released a petition from scientists in support of the proposal. The ads from the Everglades Trust show polluted water from Lake Okeechobee being discharged into the St. Lucie River with signs in Martin County warning against swimming. […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 18, 2015

A Senate committee on Wednesday voted to restore funding for affordable housing, as a way to offset the loss of revenue because of Amendment 1. Approved overwhelmingly by voters in November, Amendment 1 assigns 33% of documentary stamp tax revenue to water and land conservation. SB 586 seeks to redistribute the remaining $1.3 billion in documentary […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 18, 2015

A national news publication is reporting that a federal agency is making it tougher for governors including Rick Scott of Florida to deny man-made climate change. Early this month, the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting said the Florida Department of Environmental Protection under Scott had an unwritten policy against employees discussing climate change and sea […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 18, 2015

A House bill prompted by a U. S. Supreme Court case involving a Florida landowner is pitting property rights supporters against local governments. The Supreme Court in 2013 overturned a Florida Supreme Court ruling against the late Coy A. Koontz Sr., who sought to build on 3.7 of his 15 acres in Orange County. The […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 18, 2015

Environmental groups continued Wednesday to criticize a House water bill in advance of a Senate committee workshop while an industry group said the legislation offers a statewide approach to Florida’s water needs. HB 7003 recognizes the Central Florida Water Initiative in state law while eliminating a South Florida Water Management District farm permitting program for […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 17, 2015

A House subcommittee chairman’s proposal for environmental spending ignores the will of voters who supported Amendment 1, environmental groups said Tuesday. “Most of Florida was left out of this budget,” said Eric Draper, executive director of Audubon Florida. “Most of Florida was left out of this budget,” Draper said. He was responding to the 2015-16 […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 17, 2015

House bills that involve oil and gas “fracking” passed their first committee stop with support from some environmental groups and opposition from others and tense questioning by Rep. Ray Pilon. HB 1205 would establish a permitting program for hydraulic fracturing and acid fracturing, which are processes used to extract oil and gas from rock. HB […]

Bruce Ritchie
Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Image via Visit Florida.

Environmental groups criticize "hostility" in Senate Amendment 1 spending proposal

Amendment 1 budget proposal prompts objections, heated exchange

Senators press agencies for waterway cleanup plans in legislation

Everglades group releases petition supporting U.S. Sugar land buy

Senate panel restores affordable housing funds shifted by Amendment 1

Florida, other states must respond to climate change for federal funds, report says

House bill pits cities and counties vs. property rights supporters

Debate on House water bill moves to Senate

Enviro groups: House budget proposal ignores Amendment 1 intent

Fracking bills pass House panel after testy exchanges