Environmentalists sue Florida lawmakers over budget
Saying lawmakers defied the state constitution, three environmental groups sued the Florida Legislature Monday, claiming they ignored an amendment overwhelmingly approved by voters in November to conserve the state’s disappearing wilderness and protect its water supplies.
“Instead of complying with the mandate of Amendment 1... the Legislature misappropriated over $300 million,” the lawsuit claims. “At the same time, the Legislature approved tax cuts in excess of $400 million.”
The amendment, approved by 75 percent of voters after a statewide campaign by environmentalists, is expected to generate about $743 million next year from taxes collected on real estate transactions. But last week, lawmakers passed a budget that spends just $55 million to acquire land and $50 million to restore springs. Legislators set aside a far larger sum, $224 million, for state agency salaries and operations. Gov. Rick Scott has until June 30 to approve the budget.
Going into the session, environmentalists had fought lawmakers plans to use the money to plug holes in the state budget, lobbying hard to win backing for the purchase of 46,000 acres owned by the U.S. Sugar Corp.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article25201942.html
