Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersAugust 23, 2017

Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast of Palm Coast is introducing legislation requiring the federal government to do a scientific assessment of the causes, consequences, and potential approaches to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the Greater Everglades region. The bill would amend a 1998 law that had created an “Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 3, 2017

Congresswoman Gwen Graham took the last few days of the year to reflect on 2016, looking back on a series of successes during the Tallahassee Democrat’s single term in Congress. Graham, who opted not to run for re-election after redistricting made Florida’s 2nd Congressional District too Republican, is also looking to the future — with the promise to […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 23, 2016

While much has changed in Florida over the years, for environmentalists, one thing has remained somewhat constant — polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee. And when they point fingers at what is causing the recent toxic blue-green algae blooms plaguing the Treasure Coast, agriculture has reliably been held up as one of the “usual suspects.” For […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 15, 2016

The U.S. Senate passed a wide-sweeping water bill Thursday that includes $1.9 billion for Everglades restoration projects. The Senate approved the $10 billion water projects bill 95-3, with both Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio supporting the proposal. The measure authorizes 29 projects in 18 states for dredging, flood control, and other projects overseen by […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 13, 2016

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham is responding forcefully — with a call for a special session of the Florida Legislature — to a letter written by Florida Gov. Rick Scott regarding the federal government’s role in the developing crisis along the state’s Treasure Coast, where algae blooms are creating an emergency-level natural disaster. Earlier this week, Scott […]

Associated PressJuly 12, 2016

Officials are responding to fears in southwest Florida about a massive algae bloom fouling waters on the state’s Atlantic coast. The News-Press reports that the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau updated its website with water-monitoring information and live video of beaches overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The newspaper says tourism officials also frequently post videos from […]

Mitch PerryJuly 10, 2016

Frustrated by her refusal to entertain a debate with him in their Democratic primary in Florida’s 23rd Congressional District race, Tim Canova laid into DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Saturday, writing that she “doesn’t want you to know that she is part of the problem” when it comes to the toxic algae bloom disaster along the Treasure Coast in […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 6, 2016

One week after declaring a state of emergency in four Florida counties, Gov. Rick Scott is calling on President Barack Obama to do the same. In a letter Wednesday, Scott requested Obama declare a federal emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act because of the “public health and safety threats […]

Associated PressJuly 2, 2016

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is calling on President Barack Obama to declare a state of emergency to help businesses harmed by the massive algae bloom fouling some of Florida’s southern rivers and beaches. Rubio on Friday toured a portion of the St. Lucie River where a smelly muck is fouling an area promoted as Florida’s […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 30, 2016

Three Southwest Florida lawmakers are asking Gov. Rick Scott to include Lee County in an emergency declaration to address blue-green algae blooms. In a joint statement Thursday, Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, and Reps. Matt Caldwell and Ray Rodrigues said Scott’s emergency declaration for Martin and St. Lucie counties is “drawing much-needed attention to the algal blooms and […]

Tag: Algae bloom

Brian Mast’s bill would require algae assessment in Florida

Email insights: Gwen Graham reflects on time in Congress, hints a ‘look to the future’

Perhaps faulty septic tanks cause algae blooms after all

U.S. Senate approves Everglades restoration plan

Gwen Graham fires back at Rick Scott, calls for special session to deal with algae disaster

Tourism officials address algae fears in southwest Florida

Tim Canova attacks Debbie Wasserman Schultz again on her environmental record

Rick Scott requests federal state of emergency declaration in response to algae blooms

Army Corps to reduce lake flows fueling Florida algae bloom

Lizbeth Benacquisto, Matt Caldwell and Ray Rodrigues request Lee County be added to emergency declaration