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Florida state Rep. Mike Hill laughs about executing gay people
A North Florida state lawmaker was recorded joking about executing gay people at a political meeting in Pensacola. In the recording, Republican Rep. Mike Hill of Pensacola talks about how being gay is “a choice” and “a behavior” and that gay people don’t deserve the same type of civil rights protection under the law as […]
Citing threat to Everglades, 44 groups ask Gov. DeSantis to veto bill
Forty-four organizations – including all the heavyweight Florida environmental groups – are urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto a bill – HB 7103 – saying it would hurt efforts to clean up Florida waterways, especially the ongoing, multi-billion-dollar Everglades restoration. Former Gov. Bob Graham has also urged DeSantis to veto the bill. “This bill has […]
Government researchers sound alarm over spraying antibiotics on FL citrus
If you drive by an orange grove these days and see someone spraying the trees, it may be antibiotics in that mist. They are spraying streptomycin and oxytetracycline – antibiotics often used on people. The Trump administration in December gave the go-ahead for agricultural operations to spray antibiotic pesticides on nearly a half-million acres of Florida […]
Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried asks supporters to sign petition against FL DEP over Everglades oil drilling
It’s not often you see a state Cabinet official asking people to sign a petition against a fellow state agency. But that’s what Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried is asking her supporters to do. In an email from a Political Action Committee called “Florida Consumers First,” Fried – Florida’s only statewide […]
Another former FL governor advises DeSantis to veto multi-billion-dollar toll road scheme
Another former Florida governor is advising Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto the Legislature’s proposed multi-billion statewide toll road plan, amid protests around the state against what one longtime Florida environmentalist called “the worst environmental bill in twenty years.” Former Gov. – now U.S. Rep. – Charlie Crist, joins former Gov. (and former U.S. Sen.) Bob […]
Former Gov. Bob Graham asks Gov. DeSantis to veto multi-billion-dollar toll road plan and bill that punishes anyone who challenges development
Former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, chair of the Florida Conservation Coalition, is joining the calls for Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto two bills that pose significant threats to Florida’s environment. One bill (SB 7068) to build a massive toll road network through rural areas was called “the worst environmental bill in twenty years” […]
State Ag Dept. budget has a half-million dollars to destroy illegal pot plants
(Updated) Florida has legalized medical marijuana, approved growing operations and given the green light to commercial industrial hemp crops. But the new Florida Department of Agriculture’s budget allocates a half-million dollars in the coming year to destroying illegal marijuana plants. The $500,000 is money provided by the federal government for a “domestic marijuana eradication program.” […]
Sierra Club: If DeSantis says he is a ‘Teddy Roosevelt” Republican, he should veto massive toll road scheme
Gov. Ron DeSantis calls himself a “Teddy Roosevelt Republican” – referring to his professed support for environmental protection. Now, the Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club is using the governor’s words in an advertisement urging DeSantis to veto a multi-billion-dollar plan the Legislature passed for a network of new toll roads throughout Florida. “Governor DeSantis: […]
Keeping watch on our state politicians
The policies that impact citizens the most don’t happen in Washington – they happen at state Capitols. National lobbyists know this, and that’s why they deploy armies to descend on places like Sacramento, Albany, Atlanta, and Tallahassee. They find willing politicians to slip corporate-friendly amendments into legislation. Often they just write the bills themselves or […]
Vague, multi-billion-dollar plan to build new toll roads across Florida passes Legislature
Despite a plea from one state representative that the Legislature is “just handing over a blank check,” lawmakers approved a multi-billion-dollar toll road plan Wednesday and sent the measure to Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval or veto. The massive toll road plan (SB 7068)– which critics complained will not go back before the Legislature for […]
Ignoring pleas for more scrutiny and local control, Republicans advance multi-billion dollar toll road plan
The Republican-led Florida Legislature barreled ahead Tuesday on its plan to create the largest state highway construction project since the 1950s – a toll road network that would cost billions. Republicans rejected attempts by Democrats to give locals veto power over where the road corridors would go and resisted attempts to give the broad plan […]
Politicians’ pledges to tackle red tide eco-disaster ends at the Legislature with… wait for it… another task force
Despite political promises on the campaign trail about solving the massive red tide outbreaks that littered Florida’s shores with dead sea creatures and scared away tourists last year, the state Legislature ended up passing a bill that sets up a task force to study the perennial problem. The bill specifically names the private Mote Marine […]