Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 30, 2016

Three Southwest Florida lawmakers are asking Gov. Rick Scott to include Lee County in an emergency declaration to address blue-green algae blooms. In a joint statement Thursday, Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, and Reps. Matt Caldwell and Ray Rodrigues said Scott’s emergency declaration for Martin and St. Lucie counties is “drawing much-needed attention to the algal blooms and […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 29, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in two Treasure Coast communities, and is ordering the Department of Environmental Protection to take swift action to address algae blooms in the area. The state of emergency covers Martin and St. Lucie counties, where algae blooms have been detected in local waterways. The executive order […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 29, 2016

The South Florida Water Management is responding to critics who say the district isn’t doing enough to stop the spread of blue-green algae. Blue-green algae forced Treasure Coast officials to close some Martin County beaches this week. The algae also have been spotted in waterways and canals across much of South Florida. A spokesman for the […]

Jac VerSteegJune 9, 2016

A politician is a guy who shoots you in the gut and then campaigns by bragging about the Band-Aid he put on the wound. The latest example: Just days after The Palm Beach Post’s John Kennedy documented how Gov. Rick Scott‘s environmental policies had led to an explosion of huge developments in Palm Beach County […]

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 […]

guestMay 9, 2016

“Buy the land, send the water south” has become a rallying cry for Florida activists looking to return the flow of water from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades. This mantra tells me history has been forgotten and common sense ignored. My fear is this mindset is tied to buying more land that would put rural […]

Diane RobertsApril 19, 2016

Ever wonder what will be left of natural Florida when Rick Scott slithers out of the Governor’s Mansion for the last time? Look at the Indian River Lagoon. Once a 150 mile-long bay of clear water filled with manatees, sea grasses and oysters, it has become a brown, stinking monoculture where only algae thrive. The […]

Diane RobertsApril 18, 2016

Ever wonder what will be left of natural Florida when Rick Scott slithers out of the Governor’s Mansion for the last time? Look at the Indian River Lagoon. Once a 150 mile-long bay of clear water filled with manatees, sea grasses and oysters, it has become a brown, stinking monoculture where only algae thrive. The […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 5, 2016

A Southwest Florida Democrat is calling on the federal government to designate Lake Okeechobee as a national monument. April Freeman, a Cape Coral Democrat running for Congress, said Tuesday that President Barack Obama should designate the lake as a national monument through executive order. The action, she said, would expedite clean-up, and “ensure appropriations for […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 17, 2016

Relief could be coming for some South Florida small businesses impacted by the Lake Okeechobee discharges. On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott activated Florida’s Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program for more than 100 businesses affected by the releases. The move comes after theFlorida Department of Economic Opportunity conducted a survey to assess the economic damages […]

Tag: Lake Okeechobee

Lizbeth Benacquisto, Matt Caldwell and Ray Rodrigues request Lee County be added to emergency declaration

Rick Scott declares a state of emergency in Martin, St. Lucie counties

SFWMD responds to criticism over blue-green algae blooms

Jac VerSteeg: Rick Scott puts Band-Aid on environmental wounds

Lizbeth Benacquisto addresses water quality concerns in letter to DEP

Gary Ritter: State should complete its water projects before buying more land

Diane Roberts: Rick Scott’s business buddies want to kill bears, panthers, environment

Diane Roberts: Rick Scott’s business buddies want to kill bears, panthers, environment

April Freeman calls on Barack Obama to designate Lake O a national monument

Rick Scott activates emergency loan program for small businesses impacted by Lake O discharges