Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieJune 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday vetoed more than $87 million in environmental spending including $27.3 million for suspect “dispersed” water projects. Scott vetoed $461.3 million in spending from a budget of more than $78 billion. While highlighting tax cuts and spending to bring more jobs to Florida, the governor said the 2015-16 state budget provides […]

Bruce RitchieApril 28, 2015

The Florida House adjourned the 2015 Legislative Session on Tuesday, leaving bills dealing with water policy, hydraulic fracturing, septic tank waste and Duke Energy Florida in doubt. As the Senate was discussing fracking legislation, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli told House members there was no reason to keep House members in Tallahassee because of an impasse […]

Bruce RitchieApril 21, 2015

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said Tuesday the 2015 Legislative session is going well from a policy standpoint including a water bill his department is supporting. SB 918/HB 7003 eliminate a Lake Okeechobee pollution permitting program, set deadlines for establishing minimum flow levels for springs, requires review of springs cleanup plans and places a Central Florida […]

Bruce RitchieApril 16, 2015

Sen. Jack Latvala on Thursday cautioned against any elected state official opposing his bill that would allow Duke Energy Florida to issue bonds for closing its Crystal River nuclear plant. His warning came after a vote on the House version was delayed this week. Duke says the plant closing cost is $1.4 billion. Latvala said […]

Bruce RitchieApril 16, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott’s lawsuit against federal healthcare agency over hospital funding would be a “frivolous” would represent the “tea party gone wild,” House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford said Thursday The impending loss of $2 billion in Low Income Pool money and Medicaid expansion has been at the center of a budget impasse in the Legislature. House and Senate […]

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 2, 2015

House Republicans on Thursday defended their 2015-16 state budget on Amendment 1 spending before passing it through the chamber over Democratic opposition. The $76.2 billion House budget includes $742 million as provided by voters in November for Amendment 1 for water and land conservation programs. Environmental groups say the budget ignores the voter intent of […]

Bruce RitchieApril 1, 2015

The Senate on Wednesday passed an $80.4 billion budget after adding $35 million for land acquisition to send a message to supporters of Amendment 1. In November, 75 percent of voters approved the funding initiative which is estimated to provide nearly $742 million for water and land conservation programs. The proposed budget had included $2 […]

Bruce RitchieApril 1, 2015

With the focus on big-spending items in the House and Senate budgets this week, some smaller but important spending issues are going unnoticed. For example, the proposed House and Senate budgets each contain $6.5 million for dry-cleaning sites and $3.5 million for cleaning up hazardous waste sites. But site cleanup professionals say more is needed. “That (funding) […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 31, 2015

Amendment 1 supporters on Tuesday flooded senators with calls urging them to support funding for land-buying in advance of Senate floor action on the state budget Wednesday. In November, 75 percent of voters statewide supported the water and land conservation funding initiative that provides an estimated $741 million in the 2015-16 state budget. The proposed […]

Tag: 2015-16 state budget

Governor vetoes water projects, firefighter pay increases

Fracking, land management and water bills left in doubt

Adam Putnam says despite criticism, water bill makes “tremendous progress” for springs

Jack Latvala warns against opposing his nuke plant financing bill

Dems’ leader calls healthcare lawsuit “Tea Party gone wild”

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

Matt Caldwell defends Amendment 1 spending as House OKs budget

Senate adds $35 million for land-buying before passing budget

Dry cleaning, hazardous waste cleanup falling through budget cracks, group says

With Senate budget amendments teed up, calls flood senators