It's Election Season, And Rick Scott Republicans Are Running From Pollution Woes Fast As They Can ... by gimleteye

Rick Scott was smart enough to be Florida governor for two terms and steadfastly avoid direct interaction with voters that could make headlines on TV news and social media. But he didn't expect severe, unremitting pollution to trip up his campaign for US Senate.

Last week, Scott ducked into the St. Lucie River for a quick photo op then disappeared faster than you can say, Houdini.

Houdini was the famous escape artist who succumbed to a common fatal infection with the words, "I'm tired of fighting." I don't think Scott is half the escape artist as Houdini, or, that the Republicans and Democrats and Independents of Florida are tired of fighting the rampant pollution that is destroying the "jobs" economy Scott professes to hold as his top priority.

The facts are clear enough. Scott killed the science capacity of the water management district and installed a governing board that uses millions in your tax dollars to spread fake news and propaganda. Its primary purpose is to shield the state's top polluters, Big Sugar, from scrutiny and criticism.

Under Rick Scott, enforcement actions against polluters have plunged precipitously. Scott, also, objected to the effort by the federal government to put limits on exactly the pollutants that are causing red tides and spreading marine death throughout south Florida, exposing residents and visitors to harmful algae called Cyanobacteria. It is linked to Alzheimer's. Now Scott is trying to blame the federal government for the state's pollution crisis.

Nice try, Rick, but you are no Houdini.

If you are a taxpayer, you are not tired of fighting. If you are voting age, this November you will crowd the polls like schools of fish looking for good water.

Remember the names of the polluters' friends in high office: Big Sugar is aiming Rick Scott to the US Senate. Adam Putnam, the current Agriculture Commissioner, is being promoted to governor, and Sugar's friendliest legislator, Matt Caldwell, is being pushed into the ag position being vacated by Putnam. These are the Toxic Trio and they DO NOT DESERVE YOUR VOTE.

Too bad it takes the massive pollution of Florida's waters to wake up voters. We've been heading to this perilous direction for a long, long time. Don't get tired of fighting. Get even. Vote.

District 8 County Commission Daniella Levine Cava ... by gimleteye

The Miami Herald published its primary endorsements on the weekend, including its support for Daniella Levine Cava, District 8 county commissioner.

It is important for voters to know there are TWO upcoming elections: a primary election on August 28th and a general election on Nov. 6th.

County commission races will be decided on August 28th. These are "non-partisan". One in particular attracts our interest: County Commission District 8.

This seat has been held by Daniella Levine Cava, who won a rare victory against an incumbent commissioner four years ago.

Daniella, as she is familiar to her constituents, brought considerable skills to the job of county commissioners as a long-time community leader. She has ably represented her district and showed leadership on countywide areas of concern, including public sector issues, transportation and the environment.

Daniella has been an advocate for expanding transit options within the developed sections of the county and opposed moving the Urban Development Boundary. She takes strong principled positions and is persuasive, even when she is in the minority.

We need more leadership like Daniella Levine Cava. She has earned the public trust and confidence.

Gov. Rick Scott Let Down Florida. You Don't "Fail Upwards" Into The US Senate ... by gimleteye

Environmentalists warned Rick Scott not to do it.

Now he pretends it didn't happen.

Now Florida is coated in toxic algae linked to Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.

Rick Scott wants your vote for US Senator.

Don't give it to him.

SENATOR STEWART CALLS ON GOVERNOR SCOTT TO RESCIND EXECUTIVE ORDERS, BEGIN STEPS TO HALT MASSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION

ORLANDO, Fla. – With a large area of Florida imperiled by spreading toxic algae blooms, and as the death toll of marine life continues to mount at a staggering pace, State Senator Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) on Friday called on Governor Rick Scott to immediately reverse his executive orders issued seven years ago which allowed unfettered deregulation of critical protections once safeguarding the state’s fragile environment.

“I call on you to take the first step in halting this unprecedented destruction by immediately reversing course on your orders to deregulate the environmental safeguards once in place,” wrote Senator Stewart in a letter delivered earlier today to Governor Rick Scott. “This massive and deadly algae bloom is not a sudden occurrence. It is the culmination of almost eight years of unleashed pollution into our waterways from a number of sources, which will take years to reverse. We cannot stop the poison already in the water, but we can take steps to stop the future destruction of our environment.”

Governor Scott issued his executive orders soon after taking office, which called for, among other things, the immediate suspension of all rulemaking by any of his agencies pending a review by the Office of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform, which was established under his direct control. The office, in turn, was directed to examine whether any proposed and existing rules and regulations imposed “burdensome costs on businesses; and are justifiable when the overall cost-effectiveness and economic impact of the regulation…is considered.”

Governor Scott’s undermining of the environment didn’t stop there. He also dramatically cut the amount of funding dedicated to safeguarding the environment, stripping state oversight of local development while slashing budgets for the Department of Environmental Protection and local water management districts, and cutting critical regulatory staff including scientists.
Among the results was a nosedive in enforcement activity against Florida’s polluters and lax attitudes by the state government towards non-compliance.

“There are multiple players responsible for the damage we now see culminating in the horrible damage to our water and our sea life,” wrote Senator Stewart, who is traveling to South Florida to meet with those impacted by the deadly blooms and is examining legislative action to help reverse the destruction. “Whether it stemmed from agricultural runoff, leaking septic tanks, or irresponsible disposal of hazardous waste, none of it occurred in a vacuum. But all of it can be traced back to an executive decision that said anything goes in the name of making money.”