Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 18, 2017

Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast are leading a bipartisan effort of Florida members of Congress to try to convince President Donald Trump to not zero out funding for a EPA program monitoring water quality related to the Everglades and other sensitive areas. The South Florida Geographic Initiative, begun […]

Staff ReportsMay 9, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation Tuesday pledging $800 million in bonds toward Senate President Joe Negron’s signature project — a $1.5 billion plan to restore Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades by building a reservoir south of the lake. Scott had signaled his intention to sign the legislation earlier in the week, calling Everglades restoration “a […]

Associated PressMay 9, 2017

U.S. Congressman Brian Mast has unveiled a proposal that would speed up the completion of Everglades restoration projects, including a massive reservoir system south of Lake Okeechobee approved by the Florida Legislature this year. The bill will be formally introduced Thursday and would expedite the ambitious plan by a top Florida Republican to build a […]

Michael MolineMay 8, 2017

The Senate manager for two of the most ambitious bills debated during the Legislative Session was a little wistful following sine die. Sen. Rob Bradley, who carried SB 10 for Senate President Joe Negron, called the bill “one of the real legislative achievements of the last decade or so, that we can all be very […]

Guest AuthorApril 27, 2017

Florida’s Everglades is an American iconic national park known and revered throughout the world for its biodiversity. Floridians, regardless where they live, must join together to protect and restore this treasure before the Everglades reaches a point of no return. The Everglades is home to thousands of plant and animal species and draws millions of […]

Associated PressApril 25, 2017

A bill that looks to “un-muddy” the mission of Florida’s main environmental land acquisition program could potentially affect the plan for an Everglades reservoir. A House bill brought forth Monday by Rep. Matt Caldwell, a Republican with close ties to House leadership, was passed unanimously by a House panel. Caldwell wants to alter what projects […]

Staff ReportsApril 12, 2017

An Everglades reservoir bill pushed by Senate President Joe Negron passed the state’s upper chamber Wednesday, with state Rep. Matt Caldwell saying the House will take the $1.5 billion plan “seriously.” “This gives us a great starting point,” Caldwell, chair of the House Government Accountability Committee, told POLITICO Florida. “We’ve been waiting to see what […]

Michael MolineApril 12, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron’s $1.5 billion plan to fix Lake Okeechobee, and stop overflows of toxic “guacamole water” into the state’s rivers and streams, passed the Senate Wednesday on a vote of 36-3. Last June’s overflow of toxic algae blooms, which devastated tourism and sickened many people, and prompted Gov. Rick Scott to declare a […]

Associated PressApril 5, 2017

os-ed-janet-reno-role-model-for-women-lawyers110816-20161108.jpg

The South Florida home where the late U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno lived will be preserved and donated to Miami-Dade College. The Miami Herald reports a final agreement is being ironed out to donate the ranch which sat on the edge of the Everglades where Reno’s mother built the rustic home in the 1940s. It’s […]

Scott PowersApril 3, 2017

If anyone has ever tried to insert a passive integration transponder tag into a lionfish, they may have an idea of how seriously the Florida House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee is viewing control of invasive species. Under House Bill 587, lionfish become one of three invasive species animals, along with python snakes and tegu […]

Tag: Everglades
Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Image via Visit Florida.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Brian Mast spearhead letter to save Everglades program

Rick Scott signs SB 10, the Lake Okeechobee restoration plan, into law

Brian Mast looking to fast track Lake Okeechobee reservoir

Rob Bradley reflects on his big win, and big loss, during the Legislative Session

Bob Martinez, Dominic Calabro: The time is now to address the Everglades crisis

Florida Forever bill could affect Everglades reservoir plan

Matt Caldwell: House will take Senate Everglades bill ‘seriously’

Senate approves plan to fix Lake Okeechobee, end algae invasions

Report: Janet Reno’s ranch to be donated to Miami college

Lionfish tagging, hunting pythons, designating reefs: bills pass House committee