More Republican Bullshit As FL Heads For Another Summer Of Slime; Every Polluting Industry At Trough

[hatrack]

It’s a fair question: Since the Florida Legislature passed the Clean Waterways Act of 2020, why is the Santa Fe River Bill of Rights (SAFEBOR) campaign still pushing for a Bill of Rights for the river?

Here’s a hint: despite the act’s catchy title, Tallahassee isn’t coming to the rescue. Looking under the hood, this bill does nothing to reduce the dominant source of pollution ravaging the beloved rivers and springs in my part of Florida. How can this be? Here’s another hint: Follow the money. With the support of nearly every major polluting industry in Florida, the Legislature has once again prioritized polluter profits over protecting public waters.

EDIT



Consider the bizarre pronouncement from Republican state Rep. Chuck Clemons last year in the wake of the worst water crisis in state history, Florida’s infamous 2018 Summer of Slime. Clemons boldly stated in a Gainesville Sun opinion column, "Florida’s environment is getting better. Much better. And that is directly tied to the leadership of Florida.” Incredulous, I grabbed my cameras and went to more than a dozen springs on the Santa Fe and Suwannee rivers last summer, searching for evidence that our springs really are getting better.

I found no cause for celebration. The pictures I took tell the tale. What I found broke my heart and made me angry. In almost every spring in the Suwannee River Valley, disgusting and noxious slime — fueled largely by agricultural fertilizer and manure — is now the new normal. The most magnificent natural springs on the planet are becoming aquatic wastelands. They’re dying on our watch. We were told 2020 was going to be the year that Tallahassee ditched the blinders and embraced clear vision. Instead we got legislative malfeasance masquerading as responsible oversight.

The governor could veto this defective bill, but don’t hold your breath. In the words of the director of one of Florida’s leading environmental nonprofits, “Agriculture gets a free pass to pollute and Ron DeSantis is Rick Scott with a new coat of paint.”

EDIT

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-invading-sea-slime-protection-20200428-5kn2fgcsa5fjvotrjzwvcsfqmi-story.html

[bronxiteforever]

1. Kick and recommend.

[FM123]

2. Such a disgusting situation, both literally & figuratively

"But an epidemic of indifference has swept through the Capitol. Our legislators have tested positive for dishonoring the intelligence of nature and the will of the people. They have defiled democracy itself."

[Mickju]

3. The Republican party is the party of death.

This is just one more example.