Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressJune 30, 2016

A smelly, “guacamole-thick” muck is fouling a stretch of beaches promoted as Florida’s “Treasure Coast,” where lawmakers and residents blame the federal government, saying the algae crisis is fueled by freshwater flows controlled by Army officials to protect an erosion-prone dike. The blue-green algae is the latest contaminant featured in yearslong arguments over water flowing […]

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-FoersterFebruary 26, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in three Florida counties and called on President Barack Obama to fully fund repairs needed to operate the Herbert Hoover Dike. Scott, a Naples Republican, declared a state of emergency in Lee, Martin and St. Lucie counties on Friday. The decision came after record rainfall drenched […]

Sally SwartzAugust 24, 2015

Florida lawmakers did one thing worth celebrating in this year’s Legislative Session: They approved, at long last, a law that protects residents from SLAPPs: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. Two champions deserve special credit for the success of the anti-SLAPP campaign: the Florida Press Association and the Motion Picture Association of America. On the Treasure […]

Sally SwartzAugust 4, 2015

It’s skunk week in Martin County. Not to malign Florida’s real skunks, but their human imitators have left an odiferous trail countywide this week. On the hit list: A respected environmental group, Martin County government, and residents who have fought developers who don’t want to follow the county’s protective growth rules. The stinkers: Sugar industry […]

Sally SwartzAugust 3, 2015

Martin County School Board isn’t the only government trying to pick the pockets of retired teachers and other school employees. But stripping retirees of health care benefits guaranteed by previous school boards unfairly burdens those on fixed incomes. The strategy also could wind up costing the school district more money than it saves, School Board […]

Shannon NickinsonJune 1, 2015

For many children, Escambia County is a hard place to grow up. A story in The New York Times, based on data gathered by the Equality of Opportunity Project, highlights the impact that a child’s ZIP code can have on his or her economic prospects. (Read UWF economist Rick Harper’s thoughts on the study here.) […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 11, 2015

A children’s coloring book produced by the sugar industry starred in a two-county controversy last week — one that raises questions about how corporate propaganda gets distributed. The book, “A Journey with Sugar Cane and Sugar Beet,” was given to a Palm City Elementary School kindergarten class by a Stuart dentist. The dentistry firm is […]

Tag: St. Lucie County

‘Guacamole-thick’ algae causes crisis on Florida coastline

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

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

Sally Swartz: Free speech victory rose from Session morass

Sally Swartz: Stinky lawsuits befoul Martin County development fights

Sally Swartz: It’s time to keep promises with educators

Shannon Nickinson: Support from Escambia business community is key to creating Children's Services Council

Sally Swartz: Coloring book is sugar-coated corporate propaganda