EAA rock mine update:

Tough questions at SFWMD meeting

A few board members didn’t hold back their concerns about the Southland rock mine at last week’s South Florida Water Management District meeting.

In particular, Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss asked a series of tough questions, and even upbraided Matt Eidson, who represents Phillips & Jordan (Phillips & Jordan is the applicant; U.S. Sugar and Florida Crystals own the 8,600 acres in question).

Eidson has been suggesting the district has already endorsed the proposal (it hasn’t); Goss, in response, said that from this moment forward, “the spin really needs to stop. The lobbying needs to stop.”

But is it too late? What’s the next step for those who want to stop the rock mine — and preserve our ability to “Rescue the River of Grass” by targeting the right amount of land, in the right location? Check out our latest blog post by clicking the button below.

Thanks for the shout-out, Craig!

Columnist cites Dirty Money Project in reporting the 'Big Beautiful Bill' and the Sugar Program

ICYMI, check out Craig Pittman's excellent column in the Florida Phoenix last week detailing how Big Sugar makes out like a bandit in the "Big Beautiful Bill" — a topic we also covered last week.

In his more exhaustive piece, Pittman cited our Dirty Money Project to point out how much campaign cash Florida's sugar industry has lavished on lawmakers. This money surely played a role in getting them to both include the federal Sugar Program in the reconciliation bill — and to up the sugar loan rate from the current 19.75 cent per pound to 25.38 cents per pound, effectively raising the guaranteed minimum price of sugar and handing Big Sugar a big windfall.

It just goes to show you how dirty money makes the political world go 'round, which is why we shine a spotlight on it. By tracking these contributions and exposing the influence behind bad policy, we empower citizens to hold elected officials accountable and demand change.

With your support, we can expand this groundbreaking investigative work, produce compelling public reports, and mobilize voters to challenge the status quo. Clean water shouldn’t be a partisan issue — but too often, it’s a profitable one. Help us follow the money and fight back.

Florida budget: Defunding conservation

First the good news: as the Florida House and Senate continue to jockey over the 2025-26 fiscal year budget, both chambers have agreed on the importance of Everglades funding and will allocate $614 million next year — the same amount allocated in the current budget year.

Beyond this, the conservation cause is struggling.

Florida Forever, the state’s premier land conservation program, would get $100 million under the Senate proposal — but as of this writing, gets no funding from the House.

Understand that conservation groups have long sought to establish $100 million as the funding floor for this program; this year it’s the best we can hope for.

Then there’s the Indian River Lagoon Protection Program; Gov. Ron DeSantis has pledged $100 million per year. This year the Senate is proposing $50 million — and the House, again, is proposing nothing.

Other conservation initiatives could be underfunded as well. It goes to show you that our elected officials still don’t get it — Floridians cherish our state's natural beauty. But restoring our waters and protecting our lands requires real investment.

That’s why VoteWater pushes for leaders who recognize both the urgency and the value of conservation — because a healthier, more vibrant future is worth fighting for.

We can't afford dirty water — or dirty politics

Right now, polluters are pouring millions into elections to protect their profits. And too many elected officials are looking the other way while our waterways and communities suffer.

At VoteWater, we're fighting for better leaders who will do more to protect our waters. But we can't do it without your help.

The work is urgent. Polluters aren't waiting — and neither can we. Click a button below to give now.