Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieApril 17, 2015

Last year a comprehensive water bill that passed the Senate included a major focus on Florida’s springs and reducing threats from groundwater pollution and over-pumping. Florida’s springs during the past 30 years have turned green with algae because of nitrogen in groundwater from various sources including septic tanks, fertilizer and sewage treatment plants. Fixing the […]

Bruce RitchieApril 16, 2015

Sen. Jack Latvala on Thursday cautioned against any elected state official opposing his bill that would allow Duke Energy Florida to issue bonds for closing its Crystal River nuclear plant. His warning came after a vote on the House version was delayed this week. Duke says the plant closing cost is $1.4 billion. Latvala said […]

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

There has been no action publicly in the Legislature this week on Amendment 1 spending or bills dealing with water policy but those issues are being worked on, Sen. Tom Lee, the Senate’s chief budget writer, said Wednesday. Amendment 1 is the water and land conservation funding initiative approved by voters in November. The measure is expected […]

Bruce RitchieApril 8, 2015

A Senate comprehensive water bill was rewritten Wednesday with changes requested from business and environmental groups, but neither side is yet supporting the bill. SB 918 would establish springs protection zones, provide consistency in pollution regulations dealing with Lake Okeechobee, and incorporate Central Florida water supply planning in state law. The bill passed its second […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 31, 2015

A House bill dealing with the utility regulation process is continuing to move in the House despite criticism from environmentalists that the bill doesn’t far enough to deal with energy issues. HB 7109 would set term limits for PSC members, require those who lobby the PSC to register with the state, require parties in a […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 31, 2015

A House bill dealing with the utility regulation process is continuing to move in the House despite criticism from environmentalists that the bill doesn’t far enough to deal with energy issues. HB 7109 would set term limits for PSC members, require those who lobby the PSC to register with the state, require parties in a […]

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A Senate budget amendment that would have provided $350 million for land-buying was withdrawn Wednesday but the senator who sponsored it said it could come back.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 […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 25, 2015

Sen. Thad Altman is backing up his criticism of Amendment 1 funding in the Senate proposed spending plan for 2015-16 with budget amendments to provide $350 million for conservation land-buying. The Senate Committee on Appropriations is scheduled Wednesday to consider the proposed $80.4 billion Senate budget. Amendment 1, approved by voters in November, provides an […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 23, 2015

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Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa, the Senate Democratic leader, is filing a budget amendment to redirect $80 million toward the Florida Forever land-buying program and away from other purposes she said are not consistent with Amendment 1. Approved by 75 percent of voters in November, Amendment 1 is supposed to direct $742 million toward water […]

Peter SchorschDecember 2, 2014

As we forecasted last month, Senate President Andy Gardiner today appointed Senator Tom Lee as Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Gardiner also appointed Senator Anitere Flores as Chair of the Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy. Senator Lee previously served in the Florida Senate from 1996-2006, including a two-year term as President of the […]

Tag: Senate Committee on Appropriations

Springs bill in Senate disappoints some environmentalists

Jack Latvala warns against opposing his nuke plant financing bill

Amendment 1, water spending work going on, Tom Lee says

Industry, environmentalists say rewritten Senate water bill better, could be improved

PSC bill moving in House despite complaint it doesn’t do enough

PSC bill moving in House despite complaint it doesn't do enough

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

Senate budget amendment would provide $350 million for land-buying

Arthenia Joyner filing budget amendment to boost land-buying

Sen. Prez Andy Gardiner taps Tom Lee for Appropriations Chair, Anitere Flores as Fiscal Policy Chair