Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Author

Bruce Ritchie - page 12

Bruce Ritchie has 127 articles published.

Amendment 1 budget proposal prompts objections, heated exchange

in Top Headlines by

A Senate appropriations subcommittee chairman on Thursday presented a budget proposal that provides $22 million for land acquisition, prompting another Republican subcommittee member to charge that the proposal violated Amendment 1. Amendment 1 is a conservation spending initiative approved by 75 percent of voters in November. In 2015-16, the measure will provide $741.8 million, or 33 percent of documentary stamp revenue, for water and land conservation programs. State Sen. Alan Hays, chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, recommended…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Senators press agencies for waterway cleanup plans in legislation

in Top Headlines by

Senators on a panel that pored over a House water bill on Wednesday said they’re going to want a detailed plan for cleaning up waterways in whatever legislation passes the Senate. HB 7003 recognizes the Central Florida Water Initiative in state law while eliminating a South Florida Water Management District farm permitting program for Lake Okeechobee in favor of agricultural “best management practices.” It requires the setting of minimum flows for springs simultaneously with setting recovery goals, which environmentalists say…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Everglades group releases petition supporting U.S. Sugar land buy

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Environmental groups supporting the purchase of 46,000 acres of U.S. Sugar Corp. land launched on Wednesday commercials and released a petition from scientists in support of the proposal. The ads from the Everglades Trust show polluted water from Lake Okeechobee being discharged into the St. Lucie River with signs in Martin County warning against swimming. “Legislators must respect the mandate of the voters and use the Amendment 1 funds for what the voters intended — to buy lands in the…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Senate panel restores affordable housing funds shifted by Amendment 1

in Top Headlines by

A Senate committee on Wednesday voted to restore funding for affordable housing, as a way to offset the loss of revenue because of Amendment 1. Approved overwhelmingly by voters in November, Amendment 1 provides 33 percent of documentary stamp tax revenue to water and land conservation. SB 586 seeks to redistribute the remaining $1.3 billion in documentary stamp fees for fiscal 2015-16, after $757 million is set aside for Amendment 1. The bill would have reduced the revenue going to an affordable…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Florida, other states must respond to climate change for federal funds, report says

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

A national news publication is reporting that a federal agency is making it tougher for governors including Rick Scott of Florida to deny man-made climate change. Early this month, the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting said the Florida Department of Environmental Protection under Scott had an unwritten policy against employees discussing climate change and sea level rise. Scott denied there was such a policy. Now Inside Climate News, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2013 for national reporting, says the…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

House bill pits cities and counties vs. property rights supporters

in Top Headlines by

A House bill prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court case involving a Florida landowner is pitting property rights supporters against local governments. The Supreme Court in 2013 overturned a Florida Supreme Court ruling against the late Coy A. Koontz Sr., who sought to build on 3.7 of his 15 acres in Orange County. The St. Johns River Water Management District told Koontz in 1994 that he could build if he reduced the development size or paid to restore wetlands on…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Debate on House water bill moves to Senate

in Top Headlines by

Environmental groups continued Wednesday to criticize a House water bill in advance of a Senate committee workshop while an industry group said the legislation offers a statewide approach to Florida’s water needs. HB 7003 recognizes the Central Florida Water Initiative in state law while eliminating a South Florida Water Management District farm permitting program for Lake Okeechobee in favor of agricultural “best management practices.” It requires the setting of minimum flows for springs simultaneously with setting recovery goals, which environmentalists…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

1 … 10 11 12 13 14 … 19
Go to Top