House Leadership Digs in on Zero Funding Florida Forever and the Everglades

Speaker Marco Rubio and House Policy and Budget Chair Ray Sansom have indicated that they are serious about cutting Florida Forever and Everglades spending to zero in the proposed House budget.  In statements in the media and at council meetings, the House leaders have drawn a hard line, pitting conservation against other state spending needs.  The House is now poised to pass the first appropriations bill in 30 years with no land conservation funding and the first budget in eight years without Everglades funds.  

Florida will continue to grow, people will move here, build homes and businesses here.  If we don’t continue to protect land and restore ecosystems along with the growth, the job will become that much more expensive and challenging in the future.  Protecting the environment and restoring critically damaged ecosystems cannot wait and deserve part of the state’s budget this year and every year. 

Senate leaders are holding firm on their commitment to fund Florida Forever and split funding for the Everglades between projects to help water flow though Everglades National Park and projects to clean up Lake Okeechobee.  You can thank Senate President Ken Pruitt, Budget Chair Lisa Carlton and Environment Chairman Burt Saunders for digging in – but put your energy into communicating your support for the Everglades and Florida Forever to your elected Representative in the Florida House.