Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieMarch 27, 2015

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Conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, biologist Joe Guthrie and photographer Carlton Ward Jr. sat secluded while eating lunch in the back room of a Tallahassee restaurant on Thursday, unaware that rain that had begun pouring down outside. A week earlier they would have been out in the weather while hiking, bicycling, paddling and camping on a […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 23, 2015

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Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa, the Senate Democratic leader, is filing a budget amendment to redirect $80 million toward the Florida Forever land-buying program and away from other purposes she said are not consistent with Amendment 1. Approved by 75 percent of voters in November, Amendment 1 is supposed to direct $742 million toward water […]

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

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 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 13, 2015

Wasn’t the environment supposed to get more money under Amendment 1 — not less? Is this the old Lottery-style switcharoo? Those are obvious questions to be asking after the House issued the general revenue allocation on Friday for the 2015-16 state budget. Agriculture and natural resources spending appeared to be taking a hit — at […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 13, 2015

Wasn’t the environment supposed to get more money under Amendment 1 — not less? Is this the old Lottery-style switcharoo? Those are obvious questions to be asking after the House issued the general revenue allocation on Friday for the 2015-16 state budget. Agriculture and natural resources spending appeared to be taking a hit — at […]

Bruce RitchieFebruary 4, 2015

Environmental groups said Wednesday that the water and land conservation ballot initiative approved in November makes no reference to wastewater treatment and water supply projects and isn’t intended to pay for existing state agency expenses. The policy statement and news release issued by Florida’s Water & Land Legacy coalition comes a week after Gov. Rick Scott […]

Bruce RitchieJanuary 30, 2015

A Senate committee chairman on Friday filed six bills to implement spending under Amendment 1 while supporters still were looking for details on how Gov. Rick Scott plans to spend the money. Approved by 75 percent of voters in November, Amendment 1 in the state constitution will provide an estimated $757 million for water and […]

Tag: 2015-16 state budget

After 1,000-mile trek, trio meets with legislators to talk conservation

Arthenia Joyner filing budget amendment to boost land-buying

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

Environmental groups criticize “hostility” in Senate Amendment 1 spending proposal

Amendment 1 budget proposal prompts objections, heated exchange

Enviro groups: House budget proposal ignores Amendment 1 intent

Analysis: Is the environment screwed in the House allocations? Maybe, but we don't know yet

Analysis: Is the environment screwed in the House allocations? Maybe, but we don’t know yet

Amendment 1 supporters respond — maybe — to governor’s budget

Amendment 1 breakdown provided as bills filed to restructure trust funds