The money spent on elections and lobbying pays huge dividends for Big Sugar in terms of influence.   Big Sugar already spending big ahead of 2024 elections __________________________________ The 2024 election cycle may seem a long way off. But …

The public should come before developers. Too often in Florida, they don't.   Public officials should be on the side of the public, not developers __________________________________ Here at VoteWater we make a big stink about special interests s…

We're still calling for Gov. DeSantis to veto this budget line item on fertilizer bans - with good reason   Legislators want to study fertilizer bans - but do they already know what 'the science' will say? __________________________________ As w…

These bad bills are giveaways to special interests   Gov. DeSantis: SB 540 and budget fertilizer ban are 'corporatism' - and you should veto them __________________________________ Support our work Gov. Ron DeSantis famously said in …

Just the latest devious stunt pulled by the Florida Legislature...   Banning fertilizer bans: Dirty trick by Legislature will lead to dirtier water __________________________________ Sneaky. Devious. Underhanded. Duplicitous. Can you think of a…

Doing what we can to head dirty-water bills off at the pass   Tallahassee Report: We came, we lobbied — and we'll be back __________________________________ VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart was in the state capital of Tallahassee last week…

It’s par for the course up in Tallahassee - and emblematic of the need for change.   Legislative update: 'Session of Sprawl?' You're soaking in it __________________________________ Back in February, before the Florida Legislature even convened,…

It’s long past time for change.   How the federal Sugar Program leads to dirtier water __________________________________ We could be here all day talking about Big Sugar’s impact on the environment. But the bottom line is that the industry's p…

Speak out against Florida Senate Bill 540   Please Donate! Ask key Senators to reject this pro-'sprawl' bill __________________________________ You’ve heard the term “from bad to worse?” This is the story of one proposal in the Flori…

What's it gonna be, Governor?   What's it gonna be, Governor? __________________________________ Dear Gov. Ron DeSantis: You’ve styled yourself as a Teddy Roosevelt-style Republican with an eye for conservation. But even as you seek billions fo…

Judge tosses Big Sugar lawsuit - but a big question remains   Judge tosses Big Sugar lawsuit — but big question remains __________________________________ Big Sugar just took it on the chin in court. But one of their central issues has yet to …

As red tide burns, our Legislature fiddles - and considers bills that could make things worse   As red tide burns, our Legislature fiddles — and considers bills that could make things worse __________________________________ We would think that …

It’s time for policymakers - and Big Ag - to do the right thing.   It's time for Big Agriculture to help stop discharges — here's how they can do it __________________________________ The key thing to realize about the system of drainage and wat…

These bills would be more accurately called “The Dirty Water Act”   Decomposing fish scatter the shores of Sanibel Island — a product of persistent red tide blooms along Florida's Southwest coast. Photo by Leah Voss Sprawl-backed bills would sound…

We get the temptation to celebrate the reservoir’s groundbreaking. But it's time to get back to work.   Will the EAA reservoir work as advertised? It had better. __________________________________ They came from all over Florida: Public officia…

Or is there a better way to fight water pollution?   Will technology save us from toxic algae? __________________________________ U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds thinks toxic blue-green algae may have a high-tech solution. Donalds, a Naples Republican, …