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Environmentalists are upset with state lawmakers over a lack of Everglades restoration funding. Budget cuts are also slowing down a program to buy environmentally sensitive lands. Today, Lawmakers shot aback. State Senator Burt Saunders of Naples says state taxpayers money is going to fix the Everglades this year, even if it isn’t coming out of the state budget.

“We have 229 million dollars already appropriated for 2008-2009 for the water management district,” Saunders said. “So to say that we are cutting funding to Everglades restoration is incorrect.”

Lawmakers are still in the middle of budget negotiations, but the House has no money for the Everglades, which the Senate has about 100 million dollars.