Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieApril 6, 2015

Eric Draper of Audubon Florida told a television audience this weekend that legislators are showing they are “out of sync” with voters who supported Amendment 1. Seventy-five percent of voters in November approved the funding initiative that would provide an estimated $742 million for water and land conservation in the 2015-16 state budget. Environmental groups […]

Bruce RitchieApril 2, 2015

House Republicans on Thursday defended their 2015-16 state budget on Amendment 1 spending before passing it through the chamber over Democratic opposition. The $76.2 billion House budget includes $742 million as provided by voters in November for Amendment 1 for water and land conservation programs. Environmental groups say the budget ignores the voter intent of […]

Bruce RitchieApril 1, 2015

Environmental groups praised a Senate move on Wednesday to add $35 million in the state budget toward land acquisition but said the amount falls short of what voters wanted. Amendment 1, approved by 75 percent of voters in November, is now estimated to provide nearly $742 million for water and land conservation programs. Environmental groups […]

Bruce RitchieApril 1, 2015

The Senate on Wednesday passed an $80.4 billion budget after adding $35 million for land acquisition to send a message to supporters of Amendment 1. In November, 75 percent of voters approved the funding initiative which is estimated to provide nearly $742 million for water and land conservation programs. The proposed budget had included $2 […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 27, 2015

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Conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, biologist Joe Guthrie and photographer Carlton Ward Jr. sat secluded while eating lunch in the back room of a Tallahassee restaurant on Thursday, unaware that rain that had begun pouring down outside. A week earlier they would have been out in the weather while hiking, bicycling, paddling and camping on a […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 26, 2015

A proposed House committee bill being considered Thursday would require state park managers to allow “low-impact agriculture” on parks and allow adjacent landowners to acquire state land. The House State Affairs Committee, meeting at 1 p.m., will consider proposed committee bill SAC 15-02. In 2013, HB 33 by Rep. Jimmie T. Smith, a Republican from […]

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 […]

Tag: state land acquisition

Audubon’s Eric Draper says Legislature “out of sync” with voters

Matt Caldwell defends Amendment 1 spending as House OKs budget

Senate boost for land-buying praised as House Democrats question spending

Senate adds $35 million for land-buying before passing budget

After 1,000-mile trek, trio meets with legislators to talk conservation

Rewind to 2013: House bill would allow adjacent landowners to acquire state land

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