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

Bruce RitchieMarch 4, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida announced Wednesday it’s forming a “Florida Mineral Rights Working Group” to focus on oil and gas production — with no mention of the even more controversial idea of offshore drilling. The announcement comes as legislation (SB 166/HB 169) has been filed to ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which is a process […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 3, 2015

Supporters of clean water and conservation rallied two weeks ago at the Capitol but the biggest water day of the 2015 Legislative Session may come Wednesday. HB 7003, the House water policy bill shepherded by Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Lehigh Acres and chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, likely will pass the House. And the Senate […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 3, 2015

House and Senate leaders touted water policy during opening speeches of the legislative session while Gov. Rick Scott again said he’s proposing more than required under Amendment 1. And House Speaker Steve Crisafulli warned that he’s reluctant to support an increase in land-buying despite Amendment 1, the water and land conservation funding initiative approved by […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 3, 2015

With industry and environmental groups sparring over what qualifies for spending under Amendment 1, the chairman of the Senate subcommittee that oversees environmental spending says he won’t haggle over the issue. Amendment 1, the water and land conservation funding initiative approved by voters in November, will be a focus of the 2015 Legislative Session starting […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 3, 2015

With industry and environmental groups sparring over what qualifies for spending under Amendment 1, the chairman of the Senate subcommittee that oversees environmental spending says he won’t haggle over the issue. Amendment 1, the water and land conservation funding initiative approved by voters in November, will be a focus of the 2015 Legislative Session starting […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 2, 2015

Environmental groups pushing for the state purchase of U.S. Sugar Corp. land south of Lake Okeechobee may have received a boost Monday when a University of Florida study said additional land is needed for water storage. Environmental groups have been pushing the state to exercise an option to buy 46,800 acres for water storage to […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 2, 2015

An Associated Industries of Florida advertising campaign criticizing “special interests” that want Amendment 1 funding for their “pet projects” is confusing, Audubon Florida’s Eric Draper said Monday. Amendment 1 will provide $757 million for water and land conservation programs in fiscal year 2015-16. Approval by 75 percent of voters in November led quickly to debate […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 2, 2015

An Associated Industries of Florida advertising campaign criticizing “special interests” that want Amendment 1 funding for their “pet projects” is confusing, Audubon Florida’s Eric Draper said Monday. Amendment 1 will provide $757 million for water and land conservation programs in fiscal year 2015-16. Approval by 75 percent of voters in November led quickly to debate […]

Bruce RitchieFebruary 27, 2015

A bill that would substantially change state review of proposed large development projects has been filed, but whether it will pass the Senate and House remains a big question. Trilby Republican Sen. Wilton Simpson, chairman of the Senate committee that oversees growth management, has filed SB 562, which would eliminate the existing state review process […]

Bruce RitchieFebruary 26, 2015

A bill that would substantially change state review of proposed large development projects has been filed, but whether it will pass the Senate and House remains a big question. Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby and chairman of the Senate committee that oversees growth management, has filed SB 562, which would eliminate the existing state review process […]

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.

Associated Industries of FL working group to discuss onshore oil and gas production

Water bills are on tap Wednesday but environmentalists are not cheering

Session openers: Rick Scott touts enviro spending, Steve Crisafulli warns against land-buying

With environmental issues looming, Alan Hays won’t haggle over Amendment 1 spending

With environmental issues looming, Alan Hays won't haggle over Amendment 1 spending

UF study says more water storage needed south of Lake Okeechobee

Ad campaign from AIF’s water coalition is “confusing,” Audubon’s Eric Draper says

Ad campaign from AIF's water coalition is "confusing," Audubon's Eric Draper says

Bruce Ritchie: Will bill to end state review of large developments pass?

Bruce Ritchie: Will bill to end state review of large developments pass?