Gov. Scott and Florida Legislature Snub Voters by Not Funding Amendment 1

Guest post written by David Pearson of the Tropical Audubon Society

Led backwards by Gov. Rick Scott, the state legislature thumbed its nose at 75 percent of Florida’s voters when it refused to provide funds to purchase the critical Florida Sugar property as agreed. Meantime, Florida Sugar reneged on its part, as the value of the land has risen beyond what the state had originally agreed to pay for it.

Left in the lurch, the vast number of Floridians are desperate for clean water for the Everglades, the Indian River, Biscayne Bay, the Ten Thousand Islands, and even the vast Floridan Aquifer itself.

Led by former Florida Governor and U. S. Senator Bob Graham and his Florida Conservation Coalition (FCC), which includes Tropical Audubon Society, there is now a statewide movement afoot with its “SPEAK UP:  ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY” program. Its mission is “to empower environmental advocates with the knowledge and skills to establish relationships with legislators and decision-makers to advance key conservation issues.” A South Florida workshop was held on Oct. 24 at Florida International University.

How You Can Make a Difference

State representatives can still save the day by supporting new legislation to provide these funds at their upcoming January session. Contact your Florida representative at his/her district office and urge them to support Tropical Audubon’s initiatives. If you can’t meet them in person, send a letter or email letting them know in no uncertain terms that the last legislature dropped the ball in not funding Amendment 1.

About Amendment 1: The Water and Land Conservation Amendment

Amendment 1 won voter approval on November 4, 2014 and is meant to keep Florida’s drinking water clean; protect the state’s rivers, lakes, and springs; and restore natural treasures such as the Everglades; and protect the area’s beaches and shores—without any increase in taxes.

The views expressed in this blog post are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Amplification, Inc.