State of Florida Archives: on Environment

Adam Putnam: Unravel the EPA mess; it kills jobs & increases costs

Al Gore: Ban oil and gas drilling off Florida coast

Andrew Gillum: EPA protects our families from corporate toxic pollution

This approach will sharply reduce toxic pollutants like carbon, mercury and sulfur dioxide. As Governor, Andrew will take on the challenge of rebuilding Florida into a more resilient state and protecting our natural resources that make Florida the nation's number one tourist destination. Andrew will make protecting the Everglades a priority, work to keep our water clean from toxic algae blooms, and fight to protect Florida's access to clean water sources.

Andrew Gillum: EPA has critical role in protecting us from toxic pollution

A: Strongly Oppose--Andrew is deeply concerned with the Republicans' assault on the EPA and its critical role of protecting our children and families from toxic pollution.

Q: How do you apply that to state issues instead of the federal EPA?

A: As Governor, Andrew will take on the challenge of rebuilding Florida into a more resilient state and protecting our natural resources that make Florida the nation's number one tourist destination. Andrew will make protecting the Everglades a priority, work to keep our water clean from toxic algae blooms, and fight to protect Florida's access to clean water sources.

Andrew Gillum: Properly fund Florida Forever and Everglades restorations

GILLUM: Our unique waterways are just too important to allow both pollution and inaction to run rampant. As Governor, I'll demand that Florida Forever is properly funded at its original levels, ensure that the Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir, filtration marshes, and water restoration projects are done right-- not done with big industries in mind--I'll make sure that our nutrient standards are strictly enforced, and I'll insist that our utilities commit to the energy efficiency and conservation measures that state law requires them to.

Andrew Gillum: Redirect freshwater flow, with pollution standards

Ron DeSantis (R): Clean the water; build a reservoir to redirect the flow south; seek federal funding to help. Has also criticized the sugar industry and open to more regulation of development that affects runoff.

Andrew Gillum (D): Reverse Rick Scott environmental policies that eased pollution standards; redirect freshwater flow; eliminate the political influence of the sugar industry; work with surrounding communities to deal with potential job loss.

Augustus Invictus: Respecting environment over business is a must

Bill Nelson: Lake Okeechobee water is murky, but it's a state issue

Scott has run a TV ad accusing Nelson of having done nothing during his time in Congress to improve the situation with Lake Okeechobee. Seasonal discharges from the lake have fueled toxic algae blooms along the Treasure Coast and in Southwest Florida.

Nelson responded with his own ad that ended with "the water is murky, but the fact is clear: Rick Scott caused this problem."

Whenever heavy rains raise Lake O's water level, the Army Corps of Engineers releases billions of gallons of water from the lake through canals. Since the federal government controls those discharges, Scott blames Nelson for not doing more to stop it. But the Army Corps doesn't control the quality of the water in the lake.

Brian Mast: Repair infrastructure surrounding Lake Okeechobee

A: 1. Be placed on the committee of transportation and infrastructure where I can work toward having the US Army Corps of Engineers, the EPA, and FEMA fund the completion of needed repairs to infrastructure surrounding Lake Okeechobee, and establish a route for Lake Okeechobee discharges to be sent toward the river of grass. 2. Establish a system where the VA must compete to provide anytime-anywhere care to our veterans.

Brian Moore: Support the EPA

A: Strongly oppose.˙ With climate change and use of fossil fuels in our country, we are destroying valuable resources, and adversely affecting the overall health of the general public from ˙pollution, bad water, air, smog, and manufacturing gases.

Connie Mack IV: Criticizes agricultural tax breaks for grazing land

Darren Soto: Named Champion of the Everglades by Audubon Florida

Edward Janowski: Rein in EPA along with other bureaucracies

A: The EPA, like many governmental administration office bureaus, has gotten out of control and need to be reigned back in. This process won't be quick or easy as a great many people have invested entire careers into these back room control entities. Their budgets need to be placed back under the control of Congress and the regulations should be curtailed to fit within Constitutional guidelines.

Francis Rooney: Stop release of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee

Working For Southwest Florida:
• Francis Rooney will not rest until the release of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River is stopped and our waterways are clean.
• Rooney will go to Washington solely dedicating himself to the people's interests and tell the lobbyists that he's not interested in what they are selling.
• He will tackle challenges head on and outwork opponents each and every day to turn our country around.

Gwen Graham: Protect natural heritage & open space for future generations

• Protect our rivers, lakes, wetlands and coastal regions to promote our local agriculture and aquaculture and continue to expand growing local tourism.
• Demand that the US Army Corps of Engineers protect our water from being diverted to other states.

Like so many in North Florida, I grew up exploring our beautiful natural treasures. Our air, land and water are part of our heritage--and I want to protect these irreplaceable natural resources for my children and their children.

Jeb Bush: 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.

Jeb Bush: 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.

Jeb Bush: 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.

Jeb Bush: 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.

Jeb Bush: Everglades are "crown jewel" of Florida environmental legacy

Jeb Bush: 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.

Jeb Bush: Declined results of state survey to limit urban sprawl

John Rutherford: Hand power back to our community from federal overreach

Marco Rubio: Partner with private companies for transportation system

Keep Florida Moving...Forward
• Improving Florida's Roadways through Private Sector Involvement
• Partner with private companies to build a model transportation system.
• Lease existing toll roads to private companies.
• Privatize the Division of Drivers' Licenses
• Allow private companies to operate the Division of Drivers' Licenses
• Offer multiple-year vehicle registrations

Marco Rubio: Hurricane Savings Accounts for homeowners' insurance

Affordable Homeowners' Insurance for Florida
• Increase funding of home inspections and grants to upgrade homes to better withstand hurricanes by creating a recurring source of funding
• Ensure all insurance companies provide discounts to homeowner engaging in hurricane mitigation
• Adopt a uniform statewide building code
• Allow the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to give companies the option to buy more reinsurance and charge near-market rates
• Allow homeowners policies with higher hurricane deductibles
• Permit policyholders to reduce their hurricane deductible if they implement verifiable mitigation measures
• Ensure that insurance companies expedite payments for damages and consider expanding the short-term, no-interest bridge loan program
• Advocate for the federal government to establish a Federal Natural Catastrophe Reinsurance Fund, allow insurers to accumulate tax-deferred reserves for catastrophes, and create "Hurricane Savings Accounts"

Matt Gaetz: Environmental regulations are job-killing overreach

Nikki Fried: Initiated a plan to phase out the use of Styrofoam products

Nikki Fried: State needs to deal with potentially polluting gypsum stacks

Nikki Fried: Asks that manatees again be listed as "endangered" species

Patrick Murphy: Vital to Florida's future that we protect our environment

Patrick E. Murphy: It is vital to Florida's future that we protect our environment. I have been a vocal advocate for the environment and for fighting climate change in the House, and this will be a top priority for me in the Senate. We should not allow offshore oil drilling along Florida's coast and I have fought against fracking in the Everglades and seismic testing in our waters. I was proud to be named Champion of the Everglades by the Florida Audubon Society, and will continue to fight to protect our environment.

Rick Scott: Lay off DEP staff; environmental compliance & no enforcement

The Public Employees For Environmental Responsibility (PEER) issued a statement that the DEP collected 70% less in fines from violators in 2012, and the agency opened half as many environmental investigations as it did the year before.

PEER says Scott advised DEP staff to restrain from pursuing enforcement and laid off staff responsible for enforcing the state's environmental standards. PEER also released an internal DEP memo in which the deputy secretary advises directors to focus on compliance without enforcement. Meanwhile, the DEP says the lower enforcement numbers are merely a consequence of more Florida industries operating within safe environmental standards.

Rick Scott: Base environmental policy on sound science, not politics

• A stable regulatory environment is key.
• Stewardship is a personal responsibility.
• A free market should drive the diversification on our energy portfolio; government should not be too restrictive or prescriptive.
• Florida should maintain its rights to protect our environment.
• Environmental policy should be based and driven by sound science, not politics

Rick Scott: Break tourism records while protecting our environment

Working together, we have made Florida not just a destination for tourists--but a destination for opportunity.

Rick Scott: Lake Okeechobee water is murky, but it's a federal issue

Scott has run a TV ad accusing Nelson of having done nothing during his time in Congress to improve the situation with Lake Okeechobee. Seasonal discharges from the lake have fueled toxic algae blooms along the Treasure Coast and in Southwest Florida.

Whenever heavy rains raise Lake O's water level, the Army Corps of Engineers releases billions of gallons of water from the lake through canals. Since the federal government controls those discharges, Scott blames Nelson for not doing more to stop it.

But the Army Corps doesn't control the quality of the water in the lake. Environmental groups across the state have been harshly critical of Scott's tenure in Tallahassee, saying his administration's budgets cuts for environmental programs helped lead to the water problems now plaguing the state.

Rick Scott: OpEd: Protestors blame Scott for red tide algae bloom

Protesters took aim at Scott for cutting funding for environmental agencies early in his first term, arguing Scott's cost-cutting and deregulation have kept the state from implementing measures that could have helped minimize naturally occurring red tide blooms.

Scott supporters who came out to see the candidate said it's unfair to blame the governor for the algae bloom when red tide has been documented going back centuries. But Scott's critics say his policies have exacerbated the problem. Red tide blooms start offshore but can feed on nutrients found in nearshore waters. Leaky septic tanks, lawn fertilizer found in stormwater runoff & other factors can add to nutrient levels in nearshore waters.

Rick Scott: Repealed mandatory septic tank inspection & cut state DEP

The governor also cut $700 million from the state's water management districts, which help implement a range of water quality programs. And Scott reduced staffing at the state Department of Environmental Protection and pushed to speed up and streamline environmental permitting, leading some to accuse the state of cutting corners in protecting the environment.

Rick Scott: Emergency $9M to cope with red tide algae bloom

Scott declared a state of emergency last month covering seven counties impacted by the red tide bloom. The governor also has directed $9 million in grant funding to help communities cope with the bloom.

"While red tide is a naturally occurring algae that has been documented along Florida's Gulf Coast since the 1840's, Gov. Scott is fighting to use all available resources to help impacted communities, including declaring a state of emergency and providing millions of dollars in grant funding to Southwest Florida counties for cleanup and recovery efforts," a spokesperson said.

Rocky De La Fuente: We bear responsibility as stewards of our planet

Ron DeSantis: Stop Lake Okeechobee discharges that caused algae crisis

DeSantis has shown concern about the algae crisis, which has blighted waterways on the Treasure Coast and southwest Florida, damaging marine life and tourism. He's met with officials and pledged to stop the discharges of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee that led to the crisis. But the water releases are done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a federal department, to prevent the Herbert Hoover Dike from being overwhelmed. Other planks of his platform include beefing up beach restoration and restoring the Everglades.

Ron DeSantis: Deal with Red Tide: clean the water; build a reservoir

Ron DeSantis (R): Clean the water; build a reservoir to redirect the flow south; seek federal funding to help. Has also criticized the sugar industry and open to more regulation of development that affects runoff.

Andrew Gillum (D): Reverse Rick Scott environmental policies that eased pollution standards; redirect freshwater flow; eliminate the political influence of the sugar industry; work with surrounding communities to deal with potential job loss.

Ron DeSantis: Must be bold in tackling Florida's water problems

Ron DeSantis: Create Resilient Florida program to deal with flooding

Val Demings: Endorsed by League of Conservation Voters

Said the LCV Action Fund President. "We are thrilled to support her campaign so she can stand up for her Central Florida constituents by working to combat climate change, reduce carbon pollution and grow our clean energy economy."

"The League of Conservation Voters is working hard to protect our environment and promote policies that will address climate change and protect our most vital natural resources and I am proud to receive their endorsement," said Demings. "I look forward to working on policies that ensure all Americans have access to clean water, air and that our environment will be protected for generations to come."