Mar 22, 2013

FFGC Environmental Action Alert -Ask your Representative to vote "NO" on HB 7065




Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 12:38 AM
Subject: FFGC Environmental Action Alert -Ask your Representative to vote "NO" on HB 7065

FFGC Officers and Members, we are forwarding the Urgent Alert from the Florida Conservation Coalition.  Please read.  This BAD Everglades bill HB 7065 is headed for a final vote in the House.  Your voice is more important than ever.  Do take time to CALL and EMAIL your Representative right away.  If they were just flooded with calls and emails they might get the message that the people don't approve of this bill.  Can you imagine the impact that we might make if hundreds of FFGC members communicated with their Representative?  Be sure to click on the link at the end of this alert read the Editorial from the Tampa Bay Times, "Make the Polluters Pay." 
If you don't know your Representative's contact information, it's very easy to find out.  Go to Myfloridahouse.gov; Click on Representatives; then find your Representative's name; their individual information page with phone number and email address will come up.
District Directors, please pass this on to your Club Presidents.  Club Presidents, please pass this on to your members.
Thank you for your prompt action on this issue.
Marion Hilliard  marionh@bellsouth.net     904-264-6619
Pat Carver carverge@aol.com   352-567-3844

Florida Conservation Coalition

Dear FCC Member,
HB 7065, which we informed you about last week, is headed towards a final vote in the Florida House. This bill jeopardizes the health and recovery of America’s Everglades by capriciously capping the amount large polluters must pay to restore the Everglades, despite the Constitutional requirement that those causing the pollution pay their fair share. It also restricts enforcement of pollution discharge permits in the Everglades Agricultural Area.
Take Action
Take action to protect the Everglades Today. Contact your representative today by phone and email and ask them to VOTE NO on HB 7065 *. It is essential that House Members from across the state know that voters are watching their actions on this bill and will not accept further damage to our Everglades. You can use the FCC's prepared email (just add your Representative's email address and your name and address) or draft your own.
Bill Specifics
·      Caps the amount of money sugar growers pay to build and operate projects to clean up the polluted waters coming off their fields; shifting the burden of paying for Everglades restoration from the polluters to you, the taxpayer. This is in direct conflict with the will of the voters of Florida. In 1996 Floridians overwhelming passed the “Polluter Pays” amendment to the Florida Constitution stating “those in the Everglades Agricultural Area who cause water pollution within the Everglades Protection Area or the Everglades Agricultural Area shall be primarily responsible for paying the costs of the abatement of that pollution.”
·       Prohibits discharges from being deemed to cause or contribute to any violation of water quality standards in the Everglades Protection area if the polluter has a permit, weakening the ability of our state agencies and environmental groups to enforce current regulations to protect the Everglades from further harm.
Take Action
Many Representatives, including legislative leaders, have already signaled their support for this bill. At this point only your voice can help protect the Everglades and assure that polluters pay their fair share for Everglades Restoration. The FCC supports SB 0768, filed by Senator Simpson, as it merely brings Florida statutes in line with the recent agreement between Florida and the federal government on Everglades restoration. We are hopeful that with your help the House will amend this bad bill to resemble Senator Simpson’s legislation.
Take action to protect the Everglades Today. Contact your representative today by phone and email and ask the to VOTE NO on HB 7065 *. It is essential that House Members from across the state know that voters are watching their actions on this bill and will not accept further damage to our Everglades. You can use the FCC's prepared email (just add your Representative's email address and your name and address) or draft your own.
It's your voice that counts.

Read the recent Tampa Bay Times Editorial opposing HB 7065, "Make the Polluters Pay." 
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-make-polluters-pay-in-everglades/2109203
Thank You.

Florida Conservation Coalition

*
Unfortunately, the "one-click" email option above is not compatible with all email clients. If the above link does not work, click here for a downloadable and printable version that can be copied and pasted into your email.

Founder and Chairman, Bob Graham; Vice-Chairman, Nathaniel Pryor Reed

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