Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJuly 28, 2016

Tallahassee-based Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Graham spent a few minutes unfavorably comparing Florida Gov. Rick Scott to Donald Trump while addressing state Democrats in Philadelphia Thursday morning. “Make no mistake, Rick Scott and Donald Trump are cut from the same wing of the Republican Party,” she said. “Not the conservative wing, but the con man wing, and if […]

Keith MorelliJune 28, 2016

The agency that oversees water resources in a 16-county region stretching between Levy and Charlotte counties along the Gulf Coast has a new boss. The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday selected Brian Armstrong as executive director at the regularly scheduled meeting in Brooksville, the headquarters of the district. Armstrong takes the place of […]

Diane RobertsMay 11, 2016

You’d think that a state where they launch rockets into space, a state which houses the world’s most powerful superconducting magnets, a state with several perfectly good universities, would embrace science. Or at least not be so thoroughly hostile to it. But this is Rick Scott’s Florida, where there’s still legislative resistance to teaching evolution […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 9, 2016

A bill revamping the state’s process of public land acquisition and management passed its first Senate committee Tuesday. LobbyTools reports that SB 1290, filed by Trilby Republican Sen. Wilton Simpson is nearly identical to House equivalent, HB 1075, filed by Lehigh Acres Republican Rep. Matt Caldwell. Orlando Democratic Sen. Darren Soto submitted an amendment to strip language that […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 28, 2016

Florida environmental agencies will have about $3.6 billion to spend in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, based on recommendations from the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government. Put together by Umatilla Republican Sen. Alan Hays, the Committee released its budget recommendations Thursday, reports LobbyTools. Among other things, Hays’ budget provides $1.5 billion to the Department of Environmental Protection, $1.7 billion […]

Phil AmmannNovember 10, 2015

Jack Latvala is saying “no way” to hunting at Honeymoon Island State Park. On Tuesday, the Clearwater Republican state senator sent a letter to Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jon Steverson asking him to remove Pinellas County’s Honeymoon Island State Park from a list of potential locations for hunting. This week, Craig Pittman […]

Peter SchorschJuly 23, 2015

Attorney General Pam Bondi has decided not to bring forward any additional applicants for the position of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, meaning that Interim Secretary Jon Steverson will be the only candidate to be interviewed by the Cabinet at their next meeting. Steverson and FDLE head Rick Swearingen were the first state officials affected by […]

Bruce RitchieMay 26, 2015

DEP Secretary Jon Steverson says he has never fired anyone for enforcing the law. Yet his fingerprints – or at least tacit backing – are all over the ouster of top staff at the St. Johns River Water Management District. The resignations of Executive Director Hans Tanzler and four top staff members at the district, […]

Bruce RitchieMay 25, 2015

DEP Secretary Jon Steverson says he has never fired anyone for enforcing the law. Yet his fingerprints – or at least tacit backing – are all over the ouster of top staff at the St. Johns River Water Management District. The resignations of Executive Director Hans Tanzler and four top staff members at the district, […]

Guest AuthorApril 27, 2015

The onshore oil and gas industry has been under heavy scrutiny during the 2015 Legislative Session, as GOP Sen. Garrett Richter of Naples and GOP Rep. Ray Rodrigues of Estero have filed legislation to provide regulatory certainty to the state of Florida that will ensure the industry is appropriately regulated. The legislation, Senate Bill 1468 […]

Tag: DEP
Golf ball and golf club in bag on green grass

Gwen Graham says Rick Scott, Donald Trump from ‘con man’ wing of GOP

Personnel note: SWFTMD announces new executive director

Diane Roberts: Bad science is not good for state’s waterways

Senate committee passes bill restructuring public land acquisition and management

Senate recommends $3.6 billion for environmental agencies in 2016-17 budget

Jack Latvala says “no way” to Honeymoon Island hunting

Jon Stevenson to be only DEP candidate interviewed at next cabinet meeting

Perhaps DEP’s Jon Steverson will tell Cabinet what’s going on in Palatka

Bruce Ritchie: Perhaps DEP’s Steverson will tell the Cabinet what is going on in Palatka

Brewster Bevis: Support regulatory certainty for oil and gas industry