Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 24, 2016

Democratic House candidate Loranne Ausley‘s recent ad bemoans “special interests” who “run our state government and control our legislators.” “They get the benefits,” she says in a voiceover. “We get the cuts.” But campaign finance records show Ausley also has taken thousands of dollars from special interests for a political committee (PC) that she controls. The story […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 26, 2016

Eric Edwards, the longtime Tallahassee-based legislative assistant to Republican state Sen. Don Gaetz, is joining U.S. Sugar Corporation’s in-house influence team, the company announced. His title will be Assistant Vice President of Governmental Affairs. “We have wanted to strengthen and expand our internal government relations operation for some time, and we have patiently searched for just the right […]

Peter SchorschAugust 31, 2016

It is often said that “elections have consequences,” and for those engaged in the political struggle to convince voters to purchase land south of Lake Okeechobee, these consequences will soon seem all too real. Among the biggest losers in Tuesday’s primary were candidates who signed the “NowOrNeverGlades” declaration to buy land from Florida sugarcane growers. […]

Peter SchorschAugust 23, 2016

When it comes to Joe Negron’s plan to save the Everglades, not everyone feels the answer is to “buy the land.” The problem? The Stuart Republican’s proposal is painfully short on details, says a recent editorial in the Fort Myers News-Press. Negron, the incoming Senate President, is pushing the state to purchase 60,000 acres of […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2016

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A congressional candidate’s “pre-primary filing” is a good indication of how he or she will close, and compared to incumbent Rep. Corrine Brown (who has an anemic $25,000) as of Aug. 10, challenger Al Lawson reports $120,000 cash-on-hand ahead of the Aug. 30 primary. From July 1 to Aug. 10, Lawson raised $49,888, with $1,000 from Brian Ballard standing […]

Peter SchorschAugust 16, 2016

Florida candidates and committees collected more than $10.5 million in contributions for the July 30 through Aug. 5 reporting period, though a lot of that money can be tagged to a handful of players. More than a quarter of that total came from utility companies pumping money into “Consumers for Smart Solar,” the committee backing […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 8, 2016

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney continues to be among the top earners in the lobbying industry, reporting earnings of at least $500,000 for the second quarter of 2016. The Tallahassee-based firm reported earning between $500,000 and $999,9999 for its work lobbying the Florida Legislature in the second quarter, spanning from April 1 to June 30. Firms […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 27, 2016

Buying land south of Lake Okeechobee may be a popular proposal to help solve South Florida’s water woes, but U.S. Sugar officials said it wouldn’t necessarily mean more water would flow to the Everglades. “Simply buying more farmland does not equate to more water flowing into the Everglades nor would it significantly reduce the discharges […]

Peter SchorschJuly 18, 2016

Last week, the Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reported Florida’s sugar industry has spent a “whopping” $57.8 million over the last 22 years on political campaign contributions. This number sounds huge. But to those actively involved in Florida’s political process, the number is not so whopping when you’re plying your trade as a health care, theme park/entertainment, […]

Phil AmmannJuly 15, 2016

For five generations, my family has called Clewiston home. We love our community, its people and our culture. We also care about our neighbors, which is why we have been concerned about the ongoing blue-green algae crisis to the north. Based on the scientific data, we know the algae is not caused by water from […]

Tag: U.S. Sugar

Loranne Ausley opposes special interests – while her PAC takes their money

Personnel note: Eric Edwards wins plum lobbying role with U.S. Sugar

Voters throw cold water on ‘Buy the Land’ candidates in primaries

News-Press editorial says Joe Negron Everglades plan needs work, more details

Al Lawson reports $120K COH in pre-primary filing, GOP money in play

Utilities, trial lawyers give big in recent reporting period

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney earns more than $500K for lobbying work during second quarter

U.S. Sugar officials say buying more farm land doesn’t equal more water flowing into Everglades

Putting the sugar industry’s history of political contributions into some much-needed context

Janet Taylor: Harming Glades communities not the solution to water crisis