Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersNovember 14, 2017

A bill that would set tougher rules and safety requirements on the All Aboard Florida Brightline passenger rail train being developed along the East Coast got approval from the Florida Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday. Yet members of that committee sounded as if they’ll be ready to derail the bill later, if they eventually conclude it’s […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2017

The Treasure Coast’s U.S. Rep. Brian Mast and a key railroad executive behind the proposed Brightline high-speed train clashed in Congress Thursday with Mast contending the company is getting public tax dollar subsidies despite claims to the contrary. The sparring came between Mast and Florida East Coast Industries’ executive director Mike Reininger during a hearing of […]

Scott PowersJune 19, 2017

Democrat Pam Keith has made official her bid to run in Florida’s 18th Congressional District, launching her bid against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast. Keith, a labor lawyer and former U.S. Navy judge advocate general who ran last year for the Democrat’s U.S. Senate nomination, is seeking to make Mast vulnerable on his vote […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2017

Brightline railroad supporters and Treasure Coast counties opposing the higher-speed train planned from Orlando to Miami debated their cases Wednesday before a Florida House committee, showing the high stakes of their fight. Officials from the train company, and two other train companies, were joined by officials of one of the counties, Indian River for a panel […]

Peter SchorschDecember 22, 2016

A recent Weather Channel documentary alleging Lake Okeechobee “pollution” drew a storm of controversy among Florida scientists, farmers – and at least one U.S. Congressman. “Toxic Lake: The Untold Story of Lake Okeechobee,” an online video posted last week, gives what many call an extremely inaccurate and incomplete picture of the environmental circumstances surrounding Lake […]

Peter SchorschAugust 10, 2016

Sen. Joe Negron’s statesmanlike news conference demonstrated how deeply he cares about water issues. There’s no doubt his plan to buy 60,000 acres south of Lake Okeechobee will be heralded in his hometown, but in all likelihood, the plan will be met with many roadblocks in Tallahassee. In short, the idea is politically untenable, costs […]

Associated PressJuly 2, 2016

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is calling on President Barack Obama to declare a state of emergency to help businesses harmed by the massive algae bloom fouling some of Florida’s southern rivers and beaches. Rubio on Friday toured a portion of the St. Lucie River where a smelly muck is fouling an area promoted as Florida’s […]

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 29, 2016

The South Florida Water Management is responding to critics who say the district isn’t doing enough to stop the spread of blue-green algae. Blue-green algae forced Treasure Coast officials to close some Martin County beaches this week. The algae also have been spotted in waterways and canals across much of South Florida. A spokesman for the […]

Ryan RayApril 11, 2016

Republican Reps. Ritch Workman and Debbie Mayfield put up middling fundraising numbers in a March reporting period shortened by a prohibition on accepting contributions during the 2016 Legislative Session, which ended March 11. Workman, who represents Melbourne in House District 52, reported raising just $5,000 while spending $10,459. Mayfield, from Vero Beach-based HD 54, reported raising $2,075 and spending […]

Tag: Treasure Coast

Bill to tighten All Aboard Florida rules gets approval – but so does train

Brian Mast, Brightline exec clash over public money for railroad

Democrat Pam Keith launches her bid against Brian Mast in CD 18

Brightline, Indian River County duke it out before House panel

Tom Rooney blasts Weather Channel documentary: Lake O is not ‘toxic’

Joe Negron shows himself a statesman, but his land buying plan is untenable

Army Corps to reduce lake flows fueling Florida algae bloom

‘Guacamole-thick’ algae causes crisis on Florida coastline

SFWMD responds to criticism over blue-green algae blooms

Debbie Mayfield, Ritch Workman post ho-hum March fundraising figures in SD 17 race