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Announcements: Multi-Family Yard Sale
May 1st, 2013

School News: CEDAR KEY SCHOOL HOSTS 24th ISLAND CITY YOUNG AUTHORS’ CONFERENCE
May 1st, 2013

Announcements: LOST DOG
April 30th, 2013

Law Enforcement News: Levy County Arrest Report 4/29/2013
April 30th, 2013

School News: Shark News 4/30
April 30th, 2013

News: CEDAR KEY WATER AND SEWER BOARD RUN-OFF
April 29th, 2013

Arts and Entertainment: Sign Up Soon for the Cedar Key Art Center Children and Teen Art Program
April 29th, 2013

News: Maria Thompson, in Long Term Care Near Fanning Springs, Welcomes Visits
April 28th, 2013

City News: CEDAR KEY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT: INPUT FROM RUN OFF CANDIDATES
April 27th, 2013

Lions` Club News: Joint Cedar Key Eagles and Lions Project supports Levy County EMS
April 27th, 2013

Conservation: Fish of the Week: Permit
April 27th, 2013

News: World Travelers - From Antarctica to Cedar Key
April 26th, 2013

News: FARAWAY INN AWARDED TRIPADVISOR GREENLEADERS™ STATUS
April 26th, 2013

Lions` Club News: Lions Elect Officers, Welcome New Members, Hear About Haven Hospice and Enjoy Hot Dogs
April 26th, 2013

Conservation: Chiefland Volunteer Awarded Volunteer of the Year
April 26th, 2013

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Anti-Environmental Bill: Save Florida From Harm

Anti-Environmental Bill: Save Florida From Harm

Editorial

Colin Dale`s (CKN Editor) note:

We should all know by now that Florida faces inumerable environmental problems. We might sometimes also think that the rascals in Tallahassee have seen the light. But then we find that the legislature has sent House Bill 999, anti-environmental legislation sponsored by Rep. Jimmy Petronis, R. Panama City, to the Governor for signature. The excessive development that will be encouraged by this latest assault on our fragile environment is a critical issue for the future of Florida, and the Cedar Key News asks you to study the following editorial which has already appeared in the Ocala Star-Banner and The Ledger (Lakeland) and make your feelings known as widely and as loudly as you possibly can.


The Florida Legislature has sent anti-environmental legislation to Gov. Rick Scott. It would not only harm our woods and water, but also would have a negative long-term economic impact on the state.

House Bill 999 - passed by the state House and Senate - is the latest assault on Florida`s environment by those who hold the most power and responsibility to protect it.

First, the Legislature gutted growth management, then it weakened our water-management districts. Now it seeks to roll back protections on wetlands, allow for more pumping of our aquifer, make it harder for local governments to hold developers accountable, make it easier to pollute our waters and award 30-year, no-bid leases to big sugar for land critical to restoration of the Everglades.

The Florida Conservation Coalition, led by former governor and Sen. Bob Graham, reports these bills would "weaken or eliminate" 20 environmental regulations. The bills - labeled "environmental regulation" measures - are nothing more than a massive effort toward deregulation. This at a time when half of Florida`s waterways already are deemed polluted by state regulators.

IRRATIONAL REASONING

The support of such legislation by Florida lawmakers is inexplicable. The state is too dependent economically on its beautiful and often unique natural resources to attract visitors from around the world to endanger them in the name of, as HB 999 sponsor Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, put it, making Florida "more business-friendly."

Florida already is among the most business-friendly of the 50 states. Further decimating its already fragile and increasingly polluted environment will not make it more attractive to the kinds of businesses we want as corporate citizens.

Gov. Rick Scott should veto HB 999 because it is more than what Patronis laughably termed "tweaks and fixes." It is the latest assault on environmental protection and growth management.

Consider one segment of the legislation that limits the number of inquiries cities and counties can make about a development permit application to three, no matter how big or intrusive the project.

By vetoing this reckless legislation, Gov. Scott has an opportunity to show that he is more concerned about everyday Floridians and the health of their communities than about pandering to big business. The governor has the opportunity to show he has learned the importance to Florida`s economy of a vibrant, protected environment.

Let Gov. Scott know that the environment matters to Florida`s residents and to their future. Email: rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com. Phone: 850-488-7146. Beseech him to veto HB 999.

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Cedar Key News

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