Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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, […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2016

Companies seeking to influence the Florida Legislature paid a median of $31,213,000 for the last quarter of 2015, according to data released Monday by the state. That’s a $531,000 increase over the preceding quarter, but still less than the $34,890,000 paid in the first quarter and $35,696,000 during the second. The 2015 Legislative Session overlapped those two quarters, and […]

Mitch PerryNovember 10, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott, who may or may not be running against Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson three years from now, continues to add hundreds of thousands of dollars to his political action committee, Let’s Get Back to Work. Last month, $425,350 flowed into the PAC. The biggest contributors were U.S. Sugar Corp., which gave $100,000 […]

Ryan RayAugust 18, 2015

The up and coming firm of Smith Bryan & Myers had themselves a healthy second quarter this year, a legislative year so far defined by lawmakers – and lobbyists – spending a lot more time in Tallahassee than anyone thought was likely when 2015 began. According to estimates based on recently submitted compensation reports, SBM […]

Mitch PerryJuly 12, 2015

The Republican Party of Florida raised over $1.9 million for the second quarter of this year, according to reports listed on the Florida Division of Elections website and posted on Friday night. Officially the party under new chairman Blaise Ingoglia brought in $1,919,327. Ingoglia was elected party chair back in January, ousting incumbent Leslie Dougher, Rick […]

Guest AuthorJune 3, 2015

For students of Big Sugar and its control of Florida, sub-section county government, Tuesday’s discussion and vote on a resolution proposed by Miami-Dade County Commissioners Daniella Levine Cava and Rebeca Sosa was a master class. The resolution, aimed at lawmakers now in special session, from the outset seemed innocuous but doomed. Instead, it passed. Here, […]

Tag: U.S. Sugar

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

AT&T, HCA, U.S. Sugar in top three for lobbying expenses

Rick Scott adds $425,350 to PAC in October

Smith Bryan & Myers collects nearly $1 million in Q2 lobbying fees

Florida GOP raises over $1.9 million in second quarter

Alan Farago: How Big Sugar's shadow fell across a simple Miami-Dade resolution