If you have had environmental concerns for Florida for any length of time you will agree that the people who make the decisions which decide the fate of our environment usually side with industry. This is especially frustrating because this is also true regarding the DEP and the water management districts, which stay in business by working really hard to pretend that they are saving our waters, all the while basically protecting the water users and abusers.
The State has allocated billions of dollars to saving our water but these often useless remedies are carefully aimed to miss the polluters. Land purchases and septic-to-sewer are usually the best we get from the State of Florida. Groundwater pumping and fertilizer reduction never seem to get funded.
Since these state agencies are falling far short of doing the job they are supposed to do, the result is that the citizens of Florida must often resort to legal action to acquire protection for our waters. This is very expensive and time-consuming and now are self-serving legislators want even more control over the citizens.
Now the very people who fail to protect our waters, our legislators, want to intensify their control and make it even harder for us to protect the environment.
Our thanks go to VoteWater for sending the following information.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
With weeks to go before the Florida Legislative session even begins, a pair of solid contenders for “Worst Bills of the Year” have entered the fray.
House Bill 789 and Senate Bill 738 are a pair of proposals which — if passed — could penalize citizens who challenge a state environmental decision and lose by saddling them with up to $50,000 in court costs.
These bills mirror a law passed last session that similarly forces anyone who challenges a local comprehensive plan or comp plan amendment and loses to pay the “prevailing party’s” legal fees.
Backers say it’s all about “fundamental fairness,” but in reality, these bills are designed to intimidate citizens and make them think twice about challenging questionable environmental decisions. Sure, you can still file your challenge. But if you lose — better have your checkbook handy.
For a closer look at these proposals, check out our report.
