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

Bruce RitchieApril 16, 2015

A bill that would allow the Cabinet to give away state parks and other conservation lands to neighboring agricultural landowners passed the House with opposition from some Democrats. Environmentalists oppose HB 7135 although they said it had been improved in earlier committee stops by requiring proposed giveaways to be reviewed by the Acquisition and Restoration Council. […]

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

There has been no action publicly in the Legislature this week on Amendment 1 spending or bills dealing with water policy but those issues are being worked on, Sen. Tom Lee, the Senate’s chief budget writer, said Wednesday. Amendment 1 is the water and land conservation funding initiative approved by voters in November. The measure is expected […]

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson said “climate change” three times during a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday in response to a senator’s question about whether there is a department policy against using the phrase. Steverson was responding to Sen. Darren Soto, a Democrat from Kissimmee who was wearing a climate change button on […]

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

Florida’s wildlife commission voted Wednesday to move forward with a rule to allow bear hunting in response to bear attacks and other encounters in urban areas. Florida had nearly 3,000 black bears in 2002, and they were removed from the state threatened species list in 2012. Bear hunting was banned by the state in 1994 […]

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

Florida is the only state with more than 600 black bears that doesn’t allow bear hunting, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff said in opening remarks during a commission meeting Wednesday in Tallahassee. And 32 of the nation’s 41 states with black bears allow hunting, said Diane Eggeman, director of FWC’s Division of Hunting […]

Bruce RitchieApril 14, 2015

Despite objections from environmentalists, a Senate subcommittee on Tuesday amended a state lands bill to require that state parks be reviewed to determine whether could be used by “low impact agriculture” or whether the state still needs them. SB 7086 is preferred by environmental groups compared to the House version of the bill, which would allow […]

Bruce RitchieApril 14, 2015

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A bill that would regulate oil and gas hydraulic fracturing was amended by a Senate Committee on Tuesday to place a moratorium on the activity until after a study is completed 2016. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as “high-pressure well-stimulation” or “fracking,” is a process involving the use of water, sand and chemicals to extract oil and gas […]

Bruce RitchieApril 14, 2015

A controversial House growth management bill passed its final committee stop on the way to the House floor on Tuesday. HB 933, which originally combined seven separate House growth management bills, includes provisions eliminating the “development of regional impact” review process for larger developments and requiring a property rights element in local government comprehensive land […]

Bruce RitchieApril 13, 2015

Former CIA Director R. James Woolsey Jr. on Monday urged legislators to take action to protect Florida’s electric grid from a terrorist or foreign military attack. Woolsey, who was CIA director from 1993 to 1995 under then-President Bill Clinton, spoke Monday during a House legislative working group meeting about the threat of electromagnetic pulse weapons that could […]

Bruce RitchieApril 13, 2015

After a debate this past month, a Tampa Bay group that says it promotes a return to constitutional government and free markets has come out against a proposed constitutional amendment that would encourage the use of solar energy. Floridians for Solar Choice proposes a constitutional amendment that would promote local, small-scale solar energy production and […]

Bruce Ritchie

State lands bill passes House but Dems’ leader says it’s a bad deal

Amendment 1, water spending work going on, Tom Lee says

DEP’s Jon Steverson repeats “climate change” phrase at confirmation hearing

FWC OKs bear-hunting proposal, final vote in June

Dramatic increase in conflicts led to bear hunting proposal, FWC chairman says

Senate amendment requires review of state parks for ag use or disposal

Senate bill amended to ban fracking during study, rule-making

Growth bill headed to House floor with opposition from cities, counties

Former CIA director urges legislators to prepare for attacks on electric grid

Conservative group opposes solar amendment after Tampa debate