Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 23, 2017

The state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has busted its outside legal expenses budget over the ongoing ‘water war’ between Georgia and Florida, legislative records show. It’s asking for an additional $13 million from the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which meets Tuesday — and even that may not be enough. Gov. Rick Scott‘s office approved the request […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 23, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott Monday officially announced the resignation of state Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold after FloridaPolitics.com broke the story of his departure last Friday night. Boxold’s resignation is effective Feb. 3, the governor said in a statement. Rachel Cone, who is now Assistant Secretary for Finance and Administration, will serve as interim secretary. Later Monday, the governmental […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 21, 2017

In the second of two surprise departures from the Gov. Rick Scott administration, the secretary of the state’s Department of Transportation is expected to step down to pursue a career in the private sector. Jim Boxold, who was appointed in December 2014 to succeed Ananth Prasad, is leaving to join the governmental affairs firm Capital City Consulting, […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 21, 2017

Jon Steverson, the Secretary of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection under Gov. Rick Scott, has resigned. His departure was confirmed Friday night by McKinley Lewis, Scott’s deputy communications director, who provided a copy of the resignation letter. Steverson is set to join the legal-lobbying firm Foley & Lardner, sources tell FloridaPolitics.com. Herschel Vineyard, who also served as a DEP Secretary, […]

Staff ReportsOctober 24, 2016

Florida regulators announced a consent order Monday with Mosaic Fertilizer LLC over a Polk County sinkhole that released 215 million of toxic, radioactive water into groundwater supplies. The deal provides for substantial fines if the company fails to meet its promises of remediation. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection “will hold Mosaic accountable for repairing the […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 21, 2016

As for the much-heralded sinkhole at the Mosaic Company’s New Wales Facility in Polk County, readers of the Tampa Bay Times may be in for a shock. Truth be told, both the state of Florida and Mosaic have been much more proactive than they are led to believe. And Mosaic and the Florida Department of […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 1, 2016

Lizbeth Benacquisto is calling on the Department of Environmental Protection to step up its efforts to ensure clean water is flowing through the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers’ estuaries. In a letter to DEP Secretary Jon Steverson, the Fort Myers Republican urges the agency to work with the South Florida Water Management District and other […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 12, 2016

With Florida’s acclaimed state park system running a deficit of about $20 million annually, Department of Environmental Protection head Jon Steverson has called for the consideration of expanding commercial activities in state parks, such as hunting, cattle grazing and timber harvesting. People outraged by that idea are holding rallies up and down the state Saturday to register […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 28, 2016

The Florida Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Jon Steverson to be the state’s Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. The full Senate confirmed Steverson by 29-8 after a handful of Democratic senators raised concerns. Steverson has raised hackles for suggesting that the state allow timber harvesting and cattle grazing to help state parks […]

Phil AmmannDecember 9, 2015

Florida State Parks have come under fire recently, and the Department of Environmental Protection decided it’s time to “set the record straight.” A new DEP email takes exception with several recent media accounts, each inaccurately “perpetuated misconceptions” about the future of Florida State Parks. “As these stories are being driven by false allegations based on […]

Tag: Jon Steverson

“Water wars” could cost the state another $13M in legal fees

It’s official: Jim Boxold resigns as state Transportation secretary

Jim Boxold to step down as DOT head for lobbying job

Jon Steverson resigns as DEP secretary

State reaches remediation deal with Mosaic over sinkhole spill

DEP takes aim at media’s coverage of Mosaic sinkhole story

Lizbeth Benacquisto addresses water quality concerns in letter to DEP

Rallies set Saturday to protest making state parks “profit centers”

Jon Steverson wins full Senate confirmation as DEP head

Email insights: DEP sets “record straight” on hunting, privatizing Florida State Parks