Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMay 27, 2015

Among those heavily disappointed by the recently aborted Legislative Session are environmental advocates, frustrated by lawmakers who failed to allocate enough money for Florida Forever, the state’s land acquisition program. That failure came despite more than 75 percent of voters in November approving Amendment 1, which calls for setting aside part of real estate document […]

Bruce RitchieMay 1, 2015

Another legislative session dubbed the “year of water” failed to deliver in 2015 as the House went home early over a health care spending dispute with the Senate. HB 7003, a water bill that was a legislative priority of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, passed the House by a 106-9 vote on the second day of […]

Bruce RitchieApril 30, 2015

The Florida office of a national environmental group on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit against federal agencies over protection of an endangered sparrow and Everglades restoration indirectly related to a proposed big land purchase. Environmental groups and some local government officials are pressuring the state to exercise an option to buy 46,800 acres of U.S. Sugar […]

Bruce RitchieApril 29, 2015

A House bill establishing comprehensive water policy was amended and passed by the Senate on Wednesday, but was dead because the House had adjourned on Tuesday. House bills dealing with hydraulic fracturing were not voted on in the Senate because their Senate sponsor said they lacked the two-thirds vote needed. The 2015 Legislative Session continued […]

Sally SwartzApril 26, 2015

The emails are puzzling. They are misleading. They are sneaky. The subject lines, in lower case letters, are nondescript, such as “funding” or “need this finished.” The sender – the Economic Council of Martin County – does not want to explain them. The emails do not ask readers to back what the Council website lists […]

Bruce RitchieApril 24, 2015

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shut off discharges from Lake Okeechobee on Friday in reaction to claims of an algae bloom in water coming from the lake. The federal agency discharges water to prevent weakening the Herbert Hoover Dike around the lake. But the nutrient-rich discharges can cause algal blooms that smother aquatic life […]

Bruce RitchieApril 23, 2015

Language from a comprehensive House water bill was added on Thursday to other environmental legislation in the House over objections from Democrats. The water bill language lacks key components of the Senate bill that are important to that chamber’s leadership, raising questions about whether the move represents gamesmanship between the two chambers. Some environmentalists say […]

Associated PressApril 22, 2015

Amid lurking alligators and the steamy heat of Florida’s Everglades, President Barack Obama on Wednesday sounded the alarm about damage from climate change he said is already wreaking mayhem in Florida and across the United States. In an implicit rebuke to Florida’s governor and other Republicans, Obama accused those who deny the man-made causes of […]

Bruce RitchieApril 21, 2015

A Senate water bill passed its final committee stop on Tuesday despite continuing concerns raised by counties and environmentalists. SB 918 replaces a Lake Okeechobee pollution permitting program with more reliance on water cleanup plans, sets deadlines for establishing minimum flow levels for springs, sets timelines for springs cleanup plans and creates a statewide advisory […]

Bruce RitchieApril 8, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said Wednesday that the Senate is getting closer to the House on a comprehensive water bill but differences remain. SB 918 was rewritten in a committee on Wednesday in response to requests by business groups and environmentalists, both of whom had raised concerns. Both sides still have issues, with environmentalists remaining […]

Tag: Lake Okeechobee

Statewide rallies to push for Special Session action on Amendment 1

“Year of water” failed along with most environmental bills

Sparrow lawsuit has indirect link to water storage, U.S. Sugar land purchase

Water, fracking bills die as Senate meets without House

Sally Swartz: Martin Economic Council misleads with sugar-flavored emails

Feds halt Lake Okeechobee discharges after Florida pols sound alarm

House water bill language finds new home as Session winds down

President sounds alarm on climate damage in visit to Everglades

Senate bill clears final committee stop despite concerns from counties, environmentalists

Speaker says water bills closer, advisory council possible sticking point