Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Tag archive

Amendment 1 - page 7

‘Year of water’ failed along with environmental bills, but some did pass

in Top Headlines by

Another legislative session dubbed the “year of water” failed to deliver in 2015 as the House went home early over a healthcare spending dispute with the Senate. HB 7003, a water bill that was a legislative priority of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, passed the House by a 106-9 vote on the second day of session. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and industry groups supported the bill, which would have set milestones and timetables for cleaning up springs and other waterways. The Senate…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Amended state lands bill passes committee, heads to House floor

in Top Headlines by

A bill that would allow the Cabinet to give away state land passed its only committee stop on Tuesday with changes requested by environmental groups. HB 7135 would establish “low impact agriculture” as a management goal for state lands. The bill also would allow the Cabinet to give away state parks and other state lands to adjacent landowners under an agreement to conserve both properties. State Rep. Matt Caldwell, a Republican from Fort Myers, said the bill would allow the…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Today on Context Florida: Environmental disappointments, Loretta Lynch, Skip Foster and healthcare

in Apolitical/Top Headlines by

Today on Context Florida: What began as the “year of the environment” for the 2015 legislative session has turned into a year of disappointment for many environmentalists, says Bruce Ritchie. Amendment 1 and statewide water policy were major issues heading into the session, with growth management also emerging once the opening gavel dropped. The House-proposed spending plan includes at least $10 million for land buying – House leaders say $205 million for the Florida Forever program – while the Senate proposes…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Audubon’s Eric Draper says Legislature ‘out of sync’ with voters

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Eric Draper of Audubon Florida told a television audience during a weekend broadcast that legislators are showing they are “out of sync” with voters who supported Amendment 1. Seventy-five percent of voters in November approved the funding initiative, which provides an estimated $742 million for water and land conservation in the 2015-16 state budget. Environmental groups say the House and Senate have ignored the intent of voters in their spending plans. The House approved perhaps $10 million for land acquisition…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

The day that was at the Florida Capitol — April 2

in Top Headlines by

To understand this day at the state capitol one needs to take a long view of a 60-day Legislative Session. Think of a production of a play – the Florida Legislature spent the first half of a session putting all the pieces in place for one heck of a show. The climax will come either in a couple of weeks with the House and Senate resolving the differences in their proposed state budgets and end the 60-day session on time…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Today on Context Florida: Tally takeaway, budgets, children in crisis and Amendment 1

in Apolitical/Top Headlines by

Today on Context Florida:  In his latest “Takeaway from Tallahassee,” Peter Schorsch notes that few would have guessed that the Florida Justice Association would look so formidable at halftime of this year’s Legislative Session. It has played successful defense so far when it comes to the all-important issue of Big Tobacco liability, as well as pro-insurance legislation that would restrict access to the courts for folks looking to claim damages from insurers. The ideological fissure that cleaves the Republican Party nationwide…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

House Dems to reject budget, say on healthcare GOP ‘is all alone on an island’

in Top Headlines by

Florida House Democrats intend to reject the House budget plan this afternoon on three counts: They will argue the spending plan does not include enough money for education, fails to comply with voter intent on Amendment 1 and doesn’t cover a billion-dollar gap in the healthcare budget created by the end of a federal program for safety-net hospitals. The Democrats support a Senate plan to bridge the gap with Medicaid dollars. “Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

1 … 5 6 7 8 9 … 11
Go to Top