Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 9, 2016

U.S. Sugar officials are pushing back after a guest editorial in a Southwest Florida newspaper said sugar producers are part of the reason why efforts to build reservoirs south of Lake Okeechobee have been postponed. “At no point has anyone representing U.S. Sugar ever said anything about opposing scientifically and technically proven storage projects throughout […]

Peter SchorschApril 22, 2016

As the global community celebrates Earth Day April 22, farmers for America’s largest sugar producer are highlighting their role in safeguarding South Florida land and water resources. Now in its 46th year, Earth Day is the largest secular observance on the planet, with more than 1 billion people observing a day of eco-friendly engagement and […]

Diane RobertsApril 19, 2016

Ever wonder what will be left of natural Florida when Rick Scott slithers out of the Governor’s Mansion for the last time? Look at the Indian River Lagoon. Once a 150 mile-long bay of clear water filled with manatees, sea grasses and oysters, it has become a brown, stinking monoculture where only algae thrive. The […]

Diane RobertsApril 18, 2016

Ever wonder what will be left of natural Florida when Rick Scott slithers out of the Governor’s Mansion for the last time? Look at the Indian River Lagoon. Once a 150 mile-long bay of clear water filled with manatees, sea grasses and oysters, it has become a brown, stinking monoculture where only algae thrive. The […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 14, 2016

U.S. Sugar is hitting back over claims that sugarcane farmers are to blame for the harmful Lake Okeechobee discharges. The Army Corps of Engineers has been releasing water from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers for about a month. The releases came after a wetter-than-normal January. South Florida officials have said the […]

Diane RobertsFebruary 24, 2016

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE — This is what the Florida Constitution says, right up top, Article I, Section 1: All political power is inherent in the people. I’m guessing most Florida legislators have never read it. Either that or they don’t give a good goddamn. For the second year in a row, they are misappropriating — stealing, […]

Tag: U.S. Sugar
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

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

U.S. Sugar pushes back over claims cane industry is to blame for postponed water projects

For Earth Day 2016, sugar farmers celebrate history of sustainability, conservation

Diane Roberts: Rick Scott’s business buddies want to kill bears, panthers, environment

Diane Roberts: Rick Scott’s business buddies want to kill bears, panthers, environment

U.S. Sugar says cane farmers not to blame for dirty water flowing from Lake O

Diane Roberts: Legislators are stealing the money meant to protect the environment