Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 31, 2015

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Bills dealing with oil and gas hydraulic fracturing in Florida passed their first Senate committee stop on Tuesday after a state environmental official said they would provide needed regulation for the industry. SB 1468 by Sen. Garrett Richter, a Republican from Naples, requires the state to develop rules for permitting “high-pressure well-stimulation,” which includes hydraulic […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 30, 2015

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An amendment filed Monday — and later withdrawn — by the chairman of a Senate committee would have placed a ban on state permits for oil and gas fracking until a study of the practice can be completed in 2016. SB 1468 by Sen. Garrett Richter, a Republican from Bradenton, requires the state to develop […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 24, 2015

Counties, agriculture, industry groups and environmentalists all raised concerns Tuesday as a Senate committee passed its first version of a water bill. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner have said passing water legislation is a top priority in the 2015 Legislative Session. The House bill, opposed by environmentalists, passed the chamber 106-9 […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 18, 2015

Senators on a panel that pored over a House water bill on Wednesday said they’re going to want a detailed plan for cleaning up waterways in whatever legislation passes the Senate. HB 7003 recognizes the Central Florida Water Initiative in state law while eliminating a South Florida Water Management District farm-permitting program for Lake Okeechobee […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 18, 2015

Environmental groups continued Wednesday to criticize a House water bill in advance of a Senate committee workshop while an industry group said the legislation offers a statewide approach to Florida’s water needs. HB 7003 recognizes the Central Florida Water Initiative in state law while eliminating a South Florida Water Management District farm permitting program for […]

Mitch PerryMarch 15, 2015

Although the vote by the Florida House of Representatives last week to repeal Florida’s 38-year ban on gay adoption was hardly overwhelming, there was little open dissent on the House floor, with only a handful of lawmakers even discussing the legislation before voting on it. Among those who did so movingly was Ocala Republican Dennis […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 11, 2015

Eric Eikenberg, CEO of the Everglades Foundation, says the Florida residents affected by discharges from Lake Okeechobee need to let state leaders know about their concerns. Eikenberg is at the Capitol this week meeting with House and Senate leaders including House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner. He’s trying to get state leaders […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 11, 2015

Eric Eikenberg, CEO of the Everglades Foundation, says the Florida residents affected by discharges from Lake Okeechobee need to let state leaders know about their concerns. Eikenberg is at the Capitol this week meeting with House and Senate leaders including House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner. He’s trying to get state leaders […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 10, 2015

A bill that would eliminate a state process for reviewing large developments cleared its first committee stop on Tuesday. Meanwhile, another bill that would eliminate Florida’s 11 regional planning councils was amended to eliminate only one of them. Large developments such as shopping malls and housing projects with hundreds of homes now are classified by […]

Tag: Charlie Dean

With Senate budget amendments teed up, calls flood senators

Fracking bills pass Senate committee with DEP support

Senate committee chair seeks to ban fracking during study

Senate panel clears water bill; environment, industry groups concerned

Senators press agencies for waterway cleanup plans in legislation

Debate on House water bill moves to Senate

Conservative House Republican Dennis Baxley reverses his vote for gay adoption

Everglades Foundation’s Eric Eikenberg presses case for land buy

Everglades Foundation's Eric Eikenberg presses case for land buy

Development bill passes first stop despite opposition from cities and counties