Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesAugust 26, 2018

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As red tide threatens the Gulf Coast economy, it’s also bringing political foes together. Look to a town hall event held in Sarasota by state Reps. Joe Gruters, a Republican, and Margaret Good, a Democrat. “Environmental crises don’t know it’s election season,” said Good, “and you don’t stop being an elected representative just because you […]

Ryan NicolAugust 16, 2018

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David Shapiro, a Democratic candidate in Florida’s 16th Congressional District, is calling out Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan over his receipt of more than $100,000 from the sugar industry in light of recent red tide and algae blooms hitting the state. The report from the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research group that tracks money […]

Staff ReportsAugust 15, 2018

Small businesses hurt by algae blooms and red tide can now apply to the state for emergency loans, Gov. Rick Scott‘s office announced Tuesday. Scott activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, which provides “short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses experiencing physical or economic loss.” The program is managed by the Florida Department of […]

Joe HendersonAugust 15, 2018

Red tide is in all the headlines now. It’s bad. But let’s go back to a time before Florida’s beaches were filled with rotting fish, dolphins and manatees. Back to a time when Rick Scott came to Tallahassee as Florida’s Governor in 2011 with a two-fold mission: Cut the state budget and get people back to […]

Danny McAuliffeAugust 13, 2018

Florida is now in a state of emergency over the impacts of red tide, a colloquialism used to describe the harmful algal blooms plaguing Florida’s Gulf Coast. Gov. Rick Scott issued the executive order declaring the state of emergency on Monday. “As Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area continues to feel the devastating impacts of […]

Staff ReportsAugust 13, 2018

Between the algae bloom and red tide, Florida’s coastal communities are fighting a two-front war, but the notion that the two environmental crises are linked is a myth according to numerous environmental scientists. The current red tide bloom began in October 2017, months before the first signs of another bloom in the coastal discharges released […]

Staff ReportsAugust 3, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday said he directed state agencies “to mobilize all available resources to address red tide impacts in Southwest Florida’s coastal communities.” The announcement mentioned the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Red tide is a “naturally occurring algae that has been documented along Florida’s […]

Mitch PerryOctober 20, 2016

Florida’s Gulf Coast has been contending with serious red tide issues over the last month, and Vern Buchanan says he wants Congress to address the issue before the end of the year. “Red tide is a clear and visible threat to the Suncoast’s environment and economy,” the Sarasota Republican said in a statement Thursday. “The […]

Tag: red tide

Joe Gruters, Margaret Good host bipartisan town hall on red tide

Sugar money again? David Shapiro calls out Vern Buchanan

Rick Scott OKs emergency loans to cope with algae, red tide

Joe Henderson: Red tide is an emergency now, but can Rick Scott be surprised?

Red tide prompts state of emergency

Link between Lake O bloom and red tide is a myth, scientists contend

Rick Scott says state will fight red tide

Vern Buchanan wants Congress to address Sarasota and Manatee’s red tide problem