How special interests pollute our politics with almost unlimited amounts of 'dirty money'

It's like a dirty money merry-go-round.

Let's say you're Big Sugar, and you want to lavish money on the compliant legislators who carry water for your cause. You COULD give directly to the candidate, but your donation is capped at $1,000 per election. That's not much.

But what if you funneled the money through PACs, political action committees? Then you could give tens or even hundreds of thousands — there's no limit — to a dozen different PACs. Each one of those PACs could then give to other PACs. And then ALL of these PACs could give $1,000 to your favorite candidate.

Or, you could donate to a PAC run by your favorite candidate, money that can be spent on campaign-related expenses, or donations to yet OTHER PACs.

Talk about magnifying your impact!

And as an added bonus for polluters, in this complicated web of giving, it's much harder to trace the original source of the Dirty Money.

But that's exactly what our "Dirty Money Project" is doing. With the help of our research partners at the Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment at Stetson University, we're mapping which "Polluter PACs" are getting the most money from polluters — and where that money is going.

For a sneak peek, check out our latest blog post. And if you're so inclined, please consider donating to VoteWater, or become a member (and receive a cool gift at the $60 level!) to help fund this important work.

Can the EPA save us from toxic algae?

On Tuesday, the City of Stuart Board of Commissioners formally voted to support a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, our friends at Friends of the Everglades and several other conservation groups, asking the federal Environmental Protection Agency to adopt new human health water-quality criteria for cyanotoxins in Florida’s Class I, II and II surface waters.

Sounds complex — and it is. So what does it mean to you, and the estuary? Friends of the Everglades’ Executive Director Eve Samples spells it out in the video above.

Have your local elected officials signed the Right to Clean Water petition?

Here's a question that SHOULD have an easy answer: Which elected officials have signed the Right to Clean Water Petition?

The answer OUGHT to be: all of them. But clearly that isn't and won't be the case. Nonetheless, we applaud those who have signed — and suggest you ask your own elected officials if they HAVE signed, and if not whether they WILL sign.

And if they WON'T, ask them why not. And remind them there is no "correct" answer to that question.

P.S. This renewed effort requires hundreds of thousands of citizen signatures to move forward. Even if you filled out a petition before, visit our offices in Stuart or head to https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/ to sign your name to a new one to help get this worthy initiative on the 2026 ballot.

Polluters have us outgunned - but you can even the odds

From LOSOM and our voter guides to our "Deep Dive" exposés and now our "Dirty Money Project," we work to equip you with the info you need to demand better policy and policy-makers. Your support makes it all possible — so please consider donating or becoming a member today.