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

Bruce RitchieMarch 9, 2015

Democrats and environmentalists blasted Gov. Rick Scott on Monday after a weekend news report that Florida Department of Environmental Protection employees had been banned from using the term climate change or global warming after he took office in 2011. The report by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting appeared in the Tampa Bay Times and was […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 9, 2015

Democrats and environmentalists blasted Gov. Rick Scott on Monday after a weekend news report that Florida Department of Environmental Protection employees had been banned from using the term climate change or global warming after he took office in 2011. The report by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting appeared in the Tampa Bay Times and was […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 9, 2015

In Sarasota, a Lowe’s that employs 175 people was built on the cleaned-up site of a former industrial wastewater spray field. In Tampa, a Walmart shopping center employing 400 people was built on 40 acres at Henderson Road and Gunn Highway, where contamination from a paint factory was cleaned up between 2001 and 2004. In […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 8, 2015

Florida’s beekeepers say honey bees play a sweet role in agriculture and the economy but they need help – and state funding – to maintain a healthy population. The Florida State Beekeepers Association is requesting $3.5 million for an apiary research center at the University of Florida. Florida is the third largest honey-producing state, with […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 8, 2015

Florida’s beekeepers say honey bees play a sweet role in agriculture and the economy but they need help – and state funding – to maintain a healthy population. The Florida State Beekeepers Association is requesting $3.5 million for an apiary research center at the University of Florida. Florida is the third largest honey-producing state, with […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 6, 2015

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Bills that would regulate hydraulic fracturing and restrict the public disclosure of chemicals used in the process have been filed again after similar bills died amid opposition in previous Legislative Sessions. Hydraulic fracturing, also called fracking, is a process of using sand, water, and chemicals under pressure to extract oil and gas from oil shale […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 5, 2015

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House Republican leaders praised a water policy bill they passed Thursday as a good start while the chamber’s Democratic leader called it bad legislation and joined environmentalists in hoping for a better version from the Senate. HB 7003 passed the House 106 to 9 on the third day of the legislative session after about 45 […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 4, 2015

Democrats questioned a House water policy bill on the floor Wednesday while environmentalists said they are turning their hopes to the Senate for a stronger bill. Supporters say HB 7003 provides a statewide approach to dealing with water issues while modernizing the water regulatory system. But environmentalists say it weakens Lake Okeechobee protections while failing […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 4, 2015

Pressed by legislators, a state environmental official said Wednesday she doesn’t expect Florida to forward to federal officials a plan for reducing carbon dioxide emissions without getting approval by the Legislature. President Barack Obama in 2014 issued his Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels. Industry […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 4, 2015

Pressed by legislators, a state environmental official said Wednesday she doesn’t expect Florida to forward to federal officials a plan for reducing carbon dioxide emissions without getting approval by the Legislature. President Barack Obama in 2014 issued his Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels. Industry […]

Bruce Ritchie
Lake Mary’s team celebrates in the eighth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Taiwan. Florida won in eight innings 2-1. Image via AP.

Earthjustice, Florida Dems slam Rick Scott over “ban” on “climate change”

Earthjustice, Florida Dems slam Rick Scott over "ban" on "climate change"

“Brownfields” group asks more for tax program after record requests

Bruce Ritchie: Beekeepers stung by 2014 veto, try again for research site

Bruce Ritchie: Beekeepers stung by 2014 veto try again for research site

Fracking regulation bills filed again after years of opposition

House water bill passes as critics hope for better Senate legislation

House water bill faces questions, is teed up for floor vote

Florida DEP says Legislature will get shot at state's carbon plan

Florida DEP says Legislature will get shot at state’s carbon plan