Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 9, 2015

At 10 a.m, and again at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, a group of activists performed a skit along the Florida Capitol courtyard — acting out a scene where eight condemned people line up next to an executioner. Their crime? Condemned to die for not having health insurance. The players were from Catalyist, a Miami-based community organization […]

Bruce RitchieApril 6, 2015

Eric Draper of Audubon Florida told a television audience this weekend that legislators are showing they are “out of sync” with voters who supported Amendment 1. Seventy-five percent of voters in November approved the funding initiative that would provide an estimated $742 million for water and land conservation in the 2015-16 state budget. Environmental groups […]

Bruce RitchieApril 1, 2015

Environmental groups praised a Senate move on Wednesday to add $35 million in the state budget toward land acquisition but said the amount falls short of what voters wanted. Amendment 1, approved by 75 percent of voters in November, is now estimated to provide nearly $742 million for water and land conservation programs. Environmental groups […]

Bruce RitchieApril 1, 2015

The Senate on Wednesday passed an $80.4 billion budget after adding $35 million for land acquisition to send a message to supporters of Amendment 1. In November, 75 percent of voters approved the funding initiative which is estimated to provide nearly $742 million for water and land conservation programs. The proposed budget had included $2 […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 31, 2015

Amendment 1 supporters on Tuesday flooded senators with calls urging them to support funding for land-buying in advance of Senate floor action on the state budget Wednesday. In November, 75 percent of voters statewide supported the water and land conservation funding initiative that provides an estimated $741 million in the 2015-16 state budget. The proposed […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 29, 2015

Words matter, or they should – at least for journalists. Not necessarily for politicians. Case in point: the Florida House leadership saying that it has $205 million in the proposed 2015-16 state budget for Florida Forever, the state’s land-buying program. Nope, not true. In fact, the House budget proposal doesn’t include a single dollar for […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 29, 2015

Words matter, or they should – at least for journalists. Not necessarily for politicians. Case in point: the Florida House leadership saying that it has $205 million in the proposed 2015-16 state budget for Florida Forever, the state’s land-buying program. Nope, not true. In fact, the House budget proposal doesn’t include a single dollar for […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 27, 2015

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Conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, biologist Joe Guthrie and photographer Carlton Ward Jr. sat secluded while eating lunch in the back room of a Tallahassee restaurant on Thursday, unaware that rain that had begun pouring down outside. A week earlier they would have been out in the weather while hiking, bicycling, paddling and camping on a […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 26, 2015

A proposed House committee bill being considered Thursday would require state park managers to allow “low-impact agriculture” on parks and allow adjacent landowners to acquire state land. The House State Affairs Committee, meeting at 1 p.m., will consider proposed committee bill SAC 15-02. In 2013, HB 33 by Rep. Jimmie T. Smith, a Republican from […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 25, 2015

A Senate budget amendment that would have provided $350 million for land-buying was withdrawn Wednesday but the senator who sponsored it said it could come back. In November, 75 percent of voters approved a ballot initiative called Amendment 1 that provides an estimated $741 million in fiscal 2015-16 for water and land conservation. The proposed Senate budget […]

Tag: Florida Forever

Activists hold Medicaid gap “public execution” in Capitol courtyard

Audubon’s Eric Draper says Legislature “out of sync” with voters

Senate boost for land-buying praised as House Democrats question spending

Senate adds $35 million for land-buying before passing budget

With Senate budget amendments teed up, calls flood senators

Bruce Ritchie: Is House giving Florida Forever $205 million? Nope

Bruce Ritchie: Is House giving Florida Forever $205 million? Nope

After 1,000-mile trek, trio meets with legislators to talk conservation

Rewind to 2013: House bill would allow adjacent landowners to acquire state land

Budget amendment for land-buying withdrawn but may be back, senator says