Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayOctober 15, 2015

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham performed one of her signature “Workdays” – a tradition she inherited from her father Bob Graham – participating in a controlled burn at the Apalachicola National Forest on Thursday. Graham, along with representatives from U.S. Forest Service and the Nature Conservancy, protected trees housing the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, ignited potentially dangerous underbrush, and extinguished a fire threatening […]

Mitch PerryAugust 27, 2015

The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a settlement agreement previously negotiated between Florida Power & Light (FPL) and the Office of Public Counsel. FPL ratepayers will pay $520.5 million to purchase and then phase out the Cedar Bay Generating coal-fired power plant in Jacksonville, located near the St. John’s River. “As we continue to […]

Phil AmmannJune 22, 2015

Influential environmental lobbyist Lee Killinger is leaving the boutique public affairs firm Anfield Consulting for a new role at The Mosaic Co. As director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Killinger will direct Tallahassee advocacy efforts for the phosphate unit of the nation’s leading producer of agricultural nutrients. Mosaic is the Polk County-based phosphate fertilizer […]

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 7, 2015

Rep. Matt Caldwell said Tuesday he hopes a series of amendments he filed will make his HB 7135 state lands bill acceptable to environmental opponents. The bill is scheduled to be considered at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday by the House Appropriations Committee. HB 7135 would allow the Cabinet to give away state parks and other state […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 26, 2015

Despite opposition from environmental groups, a House committee on Thursday voted to file a bill allowing the Cabinet to give state park lands to adjacent landowners. The committee bill, SAC 15-02, also would establish “low-impact agriculture” as a management goal for state lands along with existing goals such as recreation and protection of endangered species. Rep. […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 19, 2015

A Senate appropriations subcommittee chairman on Thursday presented a budget proposal that provides $22 million for land acquisition, prompting another Republican subcommittee member to charge that the proposal violated Amendment 1. Amendment 1 is a conservation spending initiative approved by 75% of voters in November. In 2015-16, the measure will provide $741.8 million, or 33% […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 17, 2015

A House appropriations subcommittee chair on Tuesday recommended bonding Amendment 1 revenue for land-buying while using a significant amount of the cash from the conservation-spending initiative for existing environmental spending, debt service, land management, and agricultural water programs. A key issue in the 2015 Legislative Session is how the Legislature will spend an estimated $757 million […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 15, 2015

Rep. Steve Crisafulli suggests the state needs to take better care of its land before buying any more with Amendment 1 money. Amendment 1, approved by 75 percent of voters statewide in November, is expected to provide $757 million for water and land conservation programs in the coming year. Crisafulli, a Republican from Merritt Island, […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 15, 2015

Rep. Steve Crisafulli suggests the state needs to take better care of its land before buying any more with Amendment 1 money. Amendment 1, approved by 75 percent of voters statewide in November, is expected to provide $757 million for water and land conservation programs in the coming year. Crisafulli, a Republican from Merritt Island, […]

Tag: The Nature Conservancy

Gwen Graham prevents forest fires, does Workday at Apalachicola National Forest

FPL gains OK to purchase, close coal-fired plant in Jacksonville

Lobbyist Lee Killinger leaves Anfield Consulting for new role at The Mosaic Co.

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

Matt Caldwell seeks support with amendments to state lands giveaway bill

House panel files bill allowing state land giveaways for conservation

Amendment 1 budget proposal prompts objections, heated exchange

Idea would bond Amendment 1 income, free cash for other enviro projects

Bruce Ritchie: Manage state land better AND buy more. It’s not either/or

Bruce Ritchie: Manage state land better AND buy more. It's not either/or