Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieFebruary 26, 2015

A bill that would substantially change state review of proposed large development projects has been filed, but whether it will pass the Senate and House remains a big question. Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby and chairman of the Senate committee that oversees growth management, has filed SB 562, which would eliminate the existing state review process […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 17, 2015

Although I am at the end of my third visit to India, this is still a nation that feels more remote from my experiences than any other. In the far south, it took nine hours to drive the hill country from Tamil Nadu on the east coast of India to the edge of Kerala on the west. […]

Mark FerruloJanuary 14, 2015

The new Legislature has been sworn in. At their swearing-in, members took an oath of office, placed their hands on a Bible and promised to uphold the Florida Constitution. Legislatures have tinkered in nefarious ways with voter-passed constitutional amendments in the past, but this new Legislature must do the right thing when implementing Amendment 1, […]

Mark FerruloJanuary 13, 2015

The new Legislature has been sworn in. At their swearing-in, members took an oath of office, placed their hands on a Bible and promised to uphold the Florida Constitution. Legislatures have tinkered in nefarious ways with voter-passed constitutional amendments in the past, but this new Legislature must do the right thing when implementing Amendment 1, […]

Bruce RitchieJanuary 8, 2015

Senate committee meetings without bills on the agenda rarely draw crowds, but the Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation meeting on Wednesday was an exception. With more than $700 million in revenue at stake in the coming fiscal year from a broadly-worded conservation funding initiative, representatives of environmental groups, water utilities, developers, industry groups and […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 7, 2015

In a holiday twist, the fate of the controversial bridge across the Halpatiokee Trails section of Savannas Preserve State Park now lies with a federal agency that once said the route is the “most ecologically damaging” Port St. Lucie could have chosen. The city, apparently hoping no one would notice over the holidays, asked the […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 7, 2015

In a holiday twist, the fate of the controversial bridge across the Halpatiokee Trails section of Savannas Preserve State Park now lies with a federal agency that once said the route is the “most ecologically damaging” Port St. Lucie could have chosen. The city, apparently hoping no one would notice over the holidays, asked the […]

Bruce RitchieJanuary 7, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet on Jan. 13 will take up a proposed conservation land purchase with political overtones: 620 acres in Corkscrew Swamp in Collier County for $9.7 million. During a campaign swing in Southwest Florida last August, Scott announced the state would spend $20 million to acquire land in the Corkscrew […]

Daniel TilsonDecember 31, 2014

So you ask, how did Florida’s future fare in 2014? And you say your friend is wondering what our 2015 prospects look like? Glad you’re asking, because I was contemplating just such things while chasing my 9-year-old kid and her friend around the carnival at a local park today. They’re great pals, classmates at our […]

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 […]

Tag: environment

Bruce Ritchie: Will bill to end state review of large developments pass?

Alan Farago: Travels in India conjure memories of priceless Everglades

Mark Ferrulo: Don’t slap Amendment 1 voters in the face

Mark Ferrulo: Don't slap Amendment 1 voters in the face

Amendment 1 packs committee room as enviros outline spending recommendation

Sally Swartz: Port St. Lucie tries to sneak a bridge across public wetlands

Port St. Lucie tries to sneak a bridge across public wetlands

Land deal involving Audubon, Scott campaign goes to Cabinet

Daniel Tilson: Florida 2014 – Days of Future Past

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