Alert, SB 1986. This morning, the Florida House of Representatives refused to concur with SB 1986 as it passed the Senate, and agreed to send this legislation to conference. The House had no bill on these issues, so they are not locked into a particular position. But this is one of many items that will be considered in conference, and we need to single this one out. Folks, I cannot tell you how important an opportunity we have now to get a Water Management Bill that meets the FCC goals, and takes us close to the way things were in 2010. We must write the House conferees (who are not yet named, but will be chosen from the list below), and tell them that we support passage of SB 1986 (or its successor) as amended by the Governor's proposal which would:
1. Make it possible to restore a more reasonable level of funding for the Water Management Districts.
2. Place the budgetary and operational decisions of the Water Management Districts back in the Executive Branch and the Regional Water Boards.
3. Remove the legislative caps on water management district spending set by the 2011 Legislature.
** The Florida Conservation Coalition has included a “one-click option” to help those who want a convenient way to reach those who need to be contacted, but it is technically impossible to make this function with all email clients. There will also be a downloadable and printable text version that can be copied into your email, but you will have to also place the addresses individually. We are sorry for the additional time that this second option might require but that is the state of current technology.**
If you click here, there will be a message addressed to the Chairman Grimsley, Speaker Cannon and Speaker-Elect Weatherford as well as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriation Subcommittee, please simply modify your message to suit your views.
Downloadable text version:
If you click here, there will be a downloadable and printable message addressed to key House members to that can be copied into you email but again you will have to place the email addresses individually.
We can make a difference!
Vicki Tschinkel