Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieApril 28, 2015

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Rep. Matt Gaetz voted for a hydraulic fracturing regulation bill on Monday, but says he will vote against a companion bill that would provide a public records law exemption. The outcome of the public records exemption bill likely depends on whether Gaetz is joined by others who supported the bill to provide for fracking regulation. HB 1205, […]

Bruce RitchieApril 23, 2015

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A public records bill oil and natural gas hydraulic fracturing passed its final committee stop with the bill sponsor indicating it is in trouble as it heads to the Senate floor. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as high-pressure well stimulation or fracking, involves the use of water, sand and chemicals to extract oil and gas from […]

Bruce RitchieApril 2, 2015

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As lobbyist Stephanie Kunkel, representing the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and Clean Water Action, approached the podium on Tuesday to speak on a Senate oil and gas fracking bill, there was a murmur through the committee room packed with fracking opponents. “Sellout,” one man muttered before Kunkel started speaking. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and […]

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An amendment filed Monday — and later withdrawn — by the chairman of a Senate committee would have placed a ban on state permits for oil and gas fracking until a study of the practice can be completed in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 4, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida announced Wednesday it’s forming a “Florida Mineral Rights Working Group” to focus on oil and gas production — with no mention of the even more controversial idea of offshore drilling. The announcement comes as legislation (SB 166/HB 169) has been filed to ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which is a process […]

Bruce RitchieDecember 23, 2014

Whether candidates or elected officials want to acknowledge it’s true, the environment always is important in Florida. From a statewide perspective, here are my top 10 environmental stories from 2014: Scott re-elected Gov. Rick Scott was re-elected over former Gov. Charlie Crist despite cutting the budgets of water management districts, dismantling of the state planning […]

Bruce RitchieDecember 23, 2014

Whether candidates or elected officials want to acknowledge it’s true, the environment always is important in Florida. From a statewide perspective, here are my top 10 environmental stories from 2014: Scott re-elected Gov. Rick Scott was re-elected over former Gov. Charlie Crist despite cutting the budgets of water management districts, dismantling of the state planning […]

Bruce RitchieDecember 22, 2014

Whether candidates or elected officials want to acknowledge it’s true, the environment always is important in Florida. From a statewide perspective, here are my top 10 environmental stories from 2014: Scott re-elected Gov. Rick Scott was re-elected over former Gov. Charlie Crist despite cutting the budgets of water management districts, dismantling of the state planning […]

Mark FerruloJuly 23, 2014

Imagine a future where Florida’s soil and air are contaminated, iconic endangered species like the Florida panther are lost forever and our drinking water is poisoned. Unfortunately it could happen — if we don’t put a stop to new oil and gas extraction process known as acid fracking. There are many environmental and public health […]

Tag: Dan A. Hughes Co.

Fracking public records bill hangs on whether supporters vote against exemptions

Hydraulic fracturing public records bill passes Senate panel as opposition mounts

Enviro groups that support fracking bills thread the needle

Senate committee chair seeks to ban fracking during study

Associated Industries of FL working group to discuss onshore oil and gas production

Bruce Ritchie: Florida’s top 10 environmental stories of 2014

Bruce Ritchie: Florida’s top 10 environmental stories of 2014

Bruce Ritchie: Florida’s top 10 environmental stories of 2014

Mark Ferrulo: To protect Florida’s future, ban fracking