Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschAugust 10, 2016

Sen. Joe Negron’s statesmanlike news conference demonstrated how deeply he cares about water issues. There’s no doubt his plan to buy 60,000 acres south of Lake Okeechobee will be heralded in his hometown, but in all likelihood, the plan will be met with many roadblocks in Tallahassee. In short, the idea is politically untenable, costs […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 9, 2016

U.S. Sugar officials are pushing back after a guest editorial in a Southwest Florida newspaper said sugar producers are part of the reason why efforts to build reservoirs south of Lake Okeechobee have been postponed. “At no point has anyone representing U.S. Sugar ever said anything about opposing scientifically and technically proven storage projects throughout […]

guestMay 9, 2016

“Buy the land, send the water south” has become a rallying cry for Florida activists looking to return the flow of water from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades. This mantra tells me history has been forgotten and common sense ignored. My fear is this mindset is tied to buying more land that would put rural […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 28, 2016

A bill that would fund Everglades restoration efforts with up to $200 million a year cleared the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Thursday with a unanimous vote. “Today we are making great strides toward finishing a task that is important to all Floridians,” committee chairman and Bartow Republican Rep. Ben Albritton said. “By protecting […]

Phil AmmannDecember 17, 2015

Everglades restoration will receive a substantial financial boost, thanks to bills filed by a pair Republican lawmakers Thursday. As first reported by LobbyTools, state Sen. Joe Negron and state Rep. Gayle Harrell, both of Stuart, submitted proposals (HB 989 and SB 1168) that seek to dedicate $200 million a year to Everglades restoration projects. The […]

Diane RobertsMarch 19, 2015

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE–When the Death Mermaid shows up, pay attention. Back in 1881, she appeared to Hamilton Disston, warning him against trying to drain the Everglades. Old Ham, never the most emotionally stable of multimillionaires, shut his eyes tight and swore on his mother’s grave he’d stop drinking cologne. In 1969, she scared the feds into […]

Diane RobertsMarch 17, 2015

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE–When the Death Mermaid shows up, pay attention. Back in 1881, she appeared to Hamilton Disston, warning him against trying to drain the Everglades. Old Ham, never the most emotionally stable of multimillionaires, shut his eyes tight and swore on his mother’s grave he’d stop drinking cologne. In 1969, she scared the feds into […]

Guest AuthorMarch 11, 2015

Only two months into the New Year and already the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has started to release polluted water from Lake Okeechobee, resulting in water flowing into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers, and the Indian River Lagoon, which is expected to continue over the coming weeks and months. Millions of Floridians are […]

Guest AuthorMarch 10, 2015

Only two months into the New Year and already the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has started to release polluted water from Lake Okeechobee, resulting in water flowing into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers, and the Indian River Lagoon, which is expected to continue over the coming weeks and months. Millions of Floridians are […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 1, 2014

We are blessed to live in a state abundant in environmental riches, including more than 600 miles of beautiful beaches, over 900 freshwater springs, more than 11 million acres of wetlands and our own national treasure, the Florida Everglades. Our waterways and natural spaces are not just objects of beauty but foundational to the health […]

Tag: Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

Joe Negron shows himself a statesman, but his land buying plan is untenable

U.S. Sugar pushes back over claims cane industry is to blame for postponed water projects

Gary Ritter: State should complete its water projects before buying more land

Everglades restoration bill unanimously passes House committee

Joe Negron, Gayle Harrell file bills to give $200 million boost to Everglades restoration

Legislators, ignore the Death Mermaid at your peril

Diane Roberts: Legislators, ignore the Death Mermaid at your peril

Eric Eikenberg: To stop polluting rivers, buy land for reservoir

Eric Eikenberg: To stop polluting rivers, buy land for reservoir

Steve Crisafulli: Legislature is committed to protecting Florida’s environment