Florida Legislature

Legislative update: ‘Session of sprawl?’ You’re soaking in it

April 13, 2023

We hate it when we’re right. Back in February, before the Florida Legislature even convened, we predicted this would be a “Session of Sprawl.” Just as we feared, bad bills that make paving over natural Florida that much easier are…

A clean-water governor wouldn’t sign these dirty-water bills

March 30, 2023

So what’s it going to be, Gov. DeSantis? You’ve styled yourself as a Teddy Roosevelt-style Republican with an eye for conservation. And frankly, we appreciate the record funding you’ve helped secure for Everglades restoration and other water quality projects around…

Red tide: Not out of sight, but out of mind in Tallahassee

March 23, 2023

As red tide burns, our Legislature fiddles – and considers bills that could make things worse For months a nasty red tide has bloomed up and down much of Florida’s west coast, killing fish, causing respiratory distress and worse. You…

The sprawl industry is pushing for more reckless growth – with plenty of inside help

February 16, 2023

The “Session of Sprawl” is upon us. With nearly a month to go before the 2023 Legislative session officially begins, several bills have already been filed which, if passed, will supercharge sprawl across the entirety of the Sunshine State. These…

DeSantis’ executive order on water: The good, the unclear and the political

January 17, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis’s Executive Order 23-06, issued Jan. 11, was a watershed moment in the history of Florida water politics — no pun intended. It laid out what DeSantis characterized as a sweeping agenda to clean up Florida’s troubled waters,…

Legislators have ‘unique opportunity’ with new Water Quality Subcommittee; but will they take it?

January 12, 2023

When it comes to water quality issues, we’re always leery of putting too much faith in the Florida Legislature. Time after time, we’ve watched bad bills sail on through. Proposals like last year’s Senate Bill 1000 (which will allow citrus…

Bad bill alert: HB 41 would limit citizens’ ability to challenge development rules

January 5, 2023

Happy 2023 from VoteWater, where we’re confident the new year will bring tidings of comfort and joy — and lousy ideas, bad bills and terrible initiatives courtesy of the Florida Legislature. In fact, we’ve already identified our first Bad Bill…

The election is over; the fight for clean water is not

November 9, 2022

The 2022 general election has come and gone; how, ultimately, will it impact Florida’s troubled waters? We’ll find out soon enough. Two VoteWater endorsed candidates prevailed last night; Congressman Brian Mast won re-lection to his 21st District seat; in the…

VoteWater endorses Brian Mast, Lindsay Cross ahead of Nov. 8 election

October 4, 2022

Republican Congressman Brian Mast and Lindsay Cross, Democratic candidate for Florida House District 60, were endorsed this week by the environmental advocacy group VoteWater. “Brian Mast has been an absolute warrior when it comes to clean-water issues on the Treasure…

Patience is no virtue when it comes to dealing with Florida’s water problems

August 26, 2022

“So you gotta hang on ‘til tomorrow,” sang Little Orphan Annie. Unfortunately, too many Florida decision-makers seem inclined to sing along. Last month a statewide coalition of environmental groups including VoteWater issued a “report card” showing “Florida leaders have failed…

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