Jeb Bush on Environment Republican FL Governor; V.P. prospect

Eminent domain should not be used for private purposes

BUSH: There is all sorts of intrigue about where I disagree with my brother, there would be one right there. You should not use eminent domain for private purposes. A baseball stadium or a parking lot.is very different. Transmission lines, pipe lines, bridges, and highways. All of that is proper use of eminent domain. Not to take an elderly woman's home to build a parking lot so that high-rollers can come from New York City to build casinos in Atlantic City.

Repeal EPA restrictions on clean water and clean power

Let the market decide on RFS' ethanol in gasoline

Bush acknowledged that the mandate, which passed in 2007, has helped lower dependence on foreign oil and boost corn-heavy economies. "But as we move forward over the long haul, there should be certainty for people to invest," he argued, saying ethanol will no longer need help from the government. "So at some point we'll see a reduction of the RFS need, because ethanol will be such a valuable part of the energy feedstock for our country." He declined, however, to suggest when exactly that may happen.

Bush's frank statements on the RFS indicated that he plans on sticking with his positions, no matter how unpopular they may be to certain audiences.

1990s: Compensate landowners; 2010s: state-run conservation

Bush insists that he will not contort himself to satisfy ideologues, but his views have already changed--in presentation, in tone, in language and, at times, in substance.

A useful case study: the environment. Before the 1994 election, Bush supported a state constitutional amendment, also backed by big corporations, to compensate landowners hurt by conservation efforts. He held out the prospect of cutting funds for a major program to purchase environmentally fragile lands and declared that "excessive regulation does not mean we are going to improve the quality of water, air or land-use planning."

But Bush met with conservation experts and toured important environmental sites across Florida. When he was elected four years later, "his heart changed," an adviser said.

Florida Forever: $1B for environmental land purchases

As governor, Bush signed the legislation authorized by the constitutional amendment, publicly supported the program over the course of his administration, cooperated with the cabinet to expend over $1 billion in bond money on purchases of land of environmental importance to the state, and routinely used his support of this program in promoting his environmental legacy. Nevertheless, only a year after the passage of Florida Forever, the governor undercut the program, and raised questions about his commitment to environmental conservation, by raiding its funds in the amount of $75 million in order to cover budgetary shortfalls that he was unwilling to raise taxes to cover.

Everglades are "crown jewel" of Florida environmental legacy

Acceler8: $1.5B plan for Everglades restoration

Governor Bush also kept additional funding promises to the Everglades. In 2004, he unveiled a $1.5 billion plan called "Acceler8" to complete 8 components of restoration, most of them water-supply reservoirs that would restore water flows 10 years ahead of schedule. The plan was financed with Wall Street bond money. And in 2005 he proposed a $200 million initiative to clean up Lake Okeechobee.

Declined results of state survey to limit urban sprawl

2004: Universal praise for handling spate of hurricanes

A skeptical view might see this as pure political survival: the Florida hurricanes struck a broad cross section of constituents, many if not most of them white, middle class, and Republican.

This view, though, misses a key component of Jeb's personality, which is that he loves a tough challenge. He really would have responded just as vigorously if the storm had struck a predominantly black, entirely Democratic town. Katrina serves as the perfect illustration of the difference between Jeb and Big Brother.

1,920-acre development on edge of Everglades

This quite understandably raised the ire of some county commission members, and pretty much every environmental group in the state. Mecca Farms, the site chosen, was well beyond the county's "urban services boundary," the line the county had drawn to limit urban sprawl and protect what remained of the county's wetlands. Ramming through a 1,920-acre--that's more than 3 square miles--development out across the street from the Corbett Wildlife Management Area not only violated the county's own planning rules, but also created a precedent for every other developer wanting the same thing. How could the county tell John Doe and Sons Builders that they could not erect 3,000 homes across the street from the Everglades when the county had just done exactly the same thing for Scripps?

New marine sanctuary to protect the Florida Keys

From the River of Grass to Florida's springs to the oceans that roll up on our shores, Florida will continue to protect the natural bounty and beauty of our state. We are carefully balancing our growth and environmental protection--to create the best quality of life and business climate in the country. As a result, Florida is regularly on the short list for companies looking to expand or relocate and we are winning more of these competitions every day.

Drilling in Gulf of Mexico hurts Florida tourism industry

The area that Jeb Bush seeks to stop from being auctioned is not covered by the existing moratorium [on other off-shore drilling]. It actually lies off the coast of Alabama, but close enough to Florida to worry state environmentalists. “Florida’s economy is based upon tourism and other activities that depend on a clean and healthy environment,” Jeb Bush wrote in his letter to Washington. “As a result, we continue to have the nation’s best beaches, abundant fisheries, and pristine marine waters. Protection of those resources is of paramount importance to the state of Florida.”

Restrict Eminent Domain; most severe of all govt powers

In this particular bill, eminent domain authority is expanded to benefit the North Broward Hospital District. This is undoubtedly a worthwhile and needed project, [and] the hospital has begun negotiations with local property owners to purchase their properties.

My objection to this well-intended bill, however, is that the hospital has begun this process [under the old rules, and] to change these rules [in the middle of the process] would not be in the spirit of fair play.

Additionally, this bill would set a dangerous precedent for one-time expansions of eminent domain authority. I believe this is a poor basis for creating new statutes. If the expansion of quick-take authority is an issue that needs addressing, the Legislature should do so as a policy debate for statewide application.

Let industries “self-audit”; compensate for “takings”

Supports the following principles concerning the environment:
• Support “self-audit” legislation which creates incentives for industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution
• Require full compensation when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land
• Provide funding for recycling programs
• Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations
• Supports extending the Preservation 2000 program in Florida.

More state autonomy on brownfields & Superfund cleanups.

The Issue

NGA’s Position

Support State Revolving Loan Fund for flexible Clean Water.

The Issue

NGA’s Position

Supports national drought policy, focusing on readiness.

• Whereas, the recent severe drought conditions throughout the South have created life-threatening situations as well as financial burdens for both government and individuals, and drought conditions are expected to persist in several states in the South;
• Whereas, the effects of drought build up and last for several years and, therefore, government programs to address other natural disasters are not well suited to prepare for or respond to droughts;
• Whereas, extremely dry conditions have led to numerous forest and rangeland fires, burning tens of thousands of acres of land, destroying homes and communities and eliminating critical habitats for wildlife;
• Whereas, the impacts of drought follow no political boundary and drought assistance programs occur at both state and federal levels of government, making it essential to cooperatively plan for and implement measures that will provide relief from current drought situations and prepare for future drought emergencies;
• Whereas, a national drought policy is needed, and the National Drought Policy Commission (NDPC) has issued a report emphasizing moving from relief to readiness; now, therefore, be it
• Resolved, the southern governors call upon the Congress to adopt a coordinated, integrated national drought program that
  • emphasizes preparedness over insurance, insurance over relief, and incentives over regulation;
  • coordinates drought programs and response between federal and nonfederal entities by creating a coordinating council with meaningful participation by regionally-balanced nonfederal representation, and that this council continue to identify and close gaps in the availability of federal programs in different regions; and
  • includes a crop insurance program that would make it practicable and prudent for all types of farmers in all areas of the country to obtain coverage.

Maintain water flow in Mississippi & Missouri Rivers.

• Whereas, the flow of commerce on the Mississippi River is essential to the economic welfare of the nation;
• Whereas, the USDA reports that 70% of the nation’s total grain exports were handled through Mississippi River port elevators;
• Whereas, free movement of water-borne commerce on the Inland Waterway System is critical to the delivery of goods to deep-water ports for international trade;
• Whereas, the reliability of adequate flows for navigation is a key requirement for fulfillment of delivery contracts, employment in ports and terminals, and energy efficiency;
• Whereas, delays and stoppages would threaten the successful implementation of international trade agreements under NAFTA and GATT;
• Whereas, the Missouri River contributes up to 65% of the Mississippi River flow at St. Louis during low water conditions;
• Whereas, reduction of Missouri River flows above St. Louis would result in more frequent and more costly impediments to the flow of commerce on the Mississippi River;
• Whereas, the reach of the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Cairo, Illinois is at highest risk for delays and stoppages of navigation because of low-water conditions; and
• Whereas, the US Army Corps of Engineers is considering several proposed alterations to the current edition of the Master Water Control Manual for the Missouri River that would reduce support of water-borne commerce by restricting the flow of the river during the summer and fall, low-water period at St. Louis; now, therefore, be it
• Resolved, That the Southern Governors’ Association would strongly oppose any alterations that would have such an effect and would urge the Corps to consult with affected inland waterway states prior to endorsing any proposal that would alter the current edition of the manual.