Sugar Industry

Big Sugar spent more than $600k on state lobbying in Q2

September 5, 2025

Big Sugar continues to spend big on lobbying, according to state data. In the second quarter of 2025, the industry reported that at least 55 individual lobbyists from 25 different firms were registered to lobby on their behalf. Those lobbyists collected…

Sugar smackdown: Former Congressman calls out ‘oligarchy’

July 31, 2025

That’s gonna leave a mark! Former Florida Congressman Francis Rooney (at right) slapped Big Sugar with a rhetorical 2×4 last week, calling out the industry — and the Trump Administration — for pushing policies that reward their political cronies while…

No room at the (water storage) inn? Blame Big Sugar

March 21, 2024

At last week’s South Florida Water Management District meeting, several speakers took potshots at those of us who want to “send it south.” It’s all fine and good to call for water to be sent to the stormwater treatment areas…

Big Sugar spent millions in 2023; most went to PACs

January 4, 2024

With the 2024 Florida Legislative session bearing down — it starts next week! — we figured we’d take a look at what our old friends at Big Sugar spent buying influence in 2023. While totals for the fourth quarter of…

If Thurlow-Lippisch loses seat on SFWMD board, polluters win

June 13, 2023

Here’s a case study of how politics pollutes Florida’s waters: Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch is a Sewall’s Point Realtor, long-time Treasure Coast clean water advocate and, since 2019, a member of the South Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. Few people in…

Dear Mike Rowe: Big Sugar’s not so sweet when it comes to Florida’s water – and politics

June 23, 2022

Dear Mike Rowe: First, we’re big fans of your show “How America Works,” and in particular your focus on the men and women in the trenches, rather than the bigwigs in the C-suites. Your recent program, “Behind the Scenes with…

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