Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 5, 2016

Plaintiffs challenging the state’s environmental funding under a new constitutional amendment agreed to join forces Monday. An array of environmental advocacy groups had filed suit over the Water and Land Legacy Amendment, also known as Amendment 1. The constitutional change, approved by voters in 2014, mandates state spending for land and water conservation. But advocates, […]

Scott PowersNovember 9, 2016

Amendment 1, the initiative that sought to restrict commerce of solar energy, did not cross the 60 percent approval threshold in any of Florida’s 20 most populous counties. It came close in a couple, getting 59.6 percent in Duval and 56.2 percent in Miami-Dade. But Amendment 2 got clobbered in Tampa Bay, Orlando, Gainesville, Tallahassee, […]

Staff ReportsNovember 8, 2016

Amendment 1, the contentious solar-power ballot initiative supported by the state’s investor-owned utilities, pulled an Icarus and melted down. The amendment failed Tuesday night with only 51 percent of the statewide vote. In Florida, proposed amendments must receive no less than 60 percent to pass. Public support for the initiative had cratered in recent months, according […]

Associated PressNovember 8, 2016

Voters in sun-bathed Florida will face a decision Tuesday that could weigh heavily on the use — and cost — of solar power in the state. The solar power industry is opposed to Amendment 1, a proposal to amend the state constitution that will appear on the ballot as “Florida Solar Energy Subsidies and Personal […]

Associated PressNovember 5, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court rejected a request to invalidate a proposed solar-power constitutional amendment that’s supported by power companies. The court made its decision Friday, four days before the election and after 5.2 million votes had already been cast by mail and at early voting sites. The challenge came after a leading proponent of Amendment […]

Guest AuthorNovember 4, 2016

Over the years, the Hispanic community has grown to be a major force within the U.S. economy. In 2015, the Hispanic population in the United States spent $1.3 trillion on consumer products — a number that’s projected to grow to $1.7 trillion by 2020. Over time, Hispanic Americans have developed a strong presence across a […]

Peter SchorschNovember 3, 2016

The Tampa Bay Times posted a timely story yesterday by Steve Bousquet about election-time misinformation. In the piece, “Rumors, myths, and half-truths cloud Florida’s election,” Bousquet muses, “Whatever it is, people in Florida seem more suspicious than ever about the election.” The irony is that reporting by the Times, or at least some of its brethren, aren’t helping […]

Drew WilsonOctober 31, 2016

The committee backing Amendment 1 took in $3.5 million in contributions last week, including another $3 million from utility companies. Consumers for Smart Solar received $2 million from Florida Power & Light, $1 million from Duke Energy, and $250,000 each from conservative retirement group the 60 Plus Association and from a group called “Let’s Preserve […]

Scott PowersOctober 27, 2016

Miss-Florida-Courtney-Sexton-at-Everglades-Foundatino-event.jpg

With algae blooms, the future health of the Everglades, $1.2 billion in state doc stamp tax money, an enormous reservoir project, entrenched sugar interests, a heretofore dormant Florida constitutional amendment, the united opinion of more than 200 scientists, and a recalcitrant — but changing — political environment, a lot is riding on the NowOrNeverglades bus […]

Mitch PerryOctober 27, 2016

Attorney and Senate District 18 Democratic candidate Bob Buesing boasts on the campaign trail he is a proud signer of the Now Or Neverglades Declaration, so it’s not exactly a surprise he is receiving the endorsement of the Everglades Trust. Buesing was one of 18 candidates running in local, state, and federal races in Florida next month who received the […]

Tag: Amendment 1

Plaintiffs will combine forces in Amendment 1 lawsuit

Solar energy Amendment 1 falls short almost everywhere

Solar Amendment 1 flames out

Voters in Florida face crucial solar power decisions

Florida Supreme Court won’t toss out solar ballot question

Javier Palomarez & Julio Fuentes: Yes on Amendment 1: Small business supports solar, fair policies for all

Even after bungled math mea culpa, Times/Herald still offering inaccurate information about solar amendment

Solar Amendment 1 committee takes in another $3.5M, now at $25M raised

Everglades Foundation takes its NowOrNeverglades tour to Florida roads

Everglades Trust endorses Bob Buesing in the SD 18 race