Warning: Constant ABSPATH already defined in /home/flanews/public_html/wp-config.php on line 34
Capitol News Service » Blog Archive » Amendment 1 Lost in the Budget Shuffle

Welcome to

Capitol News Service

Florida's Best Political Coverage on Television

 


 


 


Recent Posts

RSS Quote of the Day

  • Charles Baudelaire
    "Everything that is beautiful and noble is the product of reason and calculation."
  • Wilson Mizner
    "The best way to keep your friends is not to give them away."
  • Benjamin Disraeli
    "Silence is the mother of truth."
  • H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
    "Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness."

Amendment 1 Lost in the Budget Shuffle

April 27th, 2015 by flanews

A standoff over healthcare money has left the state without a spending plan, but as Matt Galka tells us, environmentalists are worried they’re going to become a casualty because of the budget battle.

75 percent of voters approved Amendment 1 in November. The constitutional amendment directs the state to use tax dollars to buy environmental conservation lands.

But Florida is locked down in a budget battle over healthcare. With no solution readily available, that puts a lot of money – including Amendment 1 dollars – up in the air.

“We’re left in limbo right now, we had pushed to get from 2 to 35 million for amendment one land acquisition funds. The House is stuck at 15,” said Sen. Darren Soto (D-Kissimmee).

Supporters are asking for $150 million dollars for Florida Forever – a program that is designed to fund new land acquisitions.  $750 million is estimated to be available for Amendment 1, but House and Senate proposals don’t come close to the request.

Amendment 1 supporters are comparing this to what the state did with the lottery in the 80’s.

Voters approved using lottery money to provide funding for education, but the state back filled some agency costs. That’s set to happen again.

“Voters approved the lottery based on the belief that it would increase funding for education, voters approved Amendment 1 based on the belief it would increase funding for conservation land acquisition,” said Will Abberger with the Amendment 1 Coalition.

Representative Matt Gaetz says they want to come to a resolution before time runs out.

“My preference is to get that money working on behalf of the people of Flordia, the way to do that is to make sure we have the infrastructure to support the land we have, both governmental and physical,” said Rep. Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach).

Environmentalists have pushed for purchasing land currently owned by U.S. Sugar which they say could help restore the Everglades. The state’s option to buy that land ends in October.

Members of the Everglades Trust are planning on delivering thousands of petitions to lawmakers and the Governor urging them to spend more money on buying new land.

Posted in State News | Comments Off on Amendment 1 Lost in the Budget Shuffle

Comments are closed.

copyright © 2016 by Capitol News Service | Powered by Wordpress | Hosted by LyonsHost.com