According to the Tampa Bay Times, House Bill 999 by Rep. Jimmy Patronis "not only strips local government protection from thousands of acres of wetlands, it also: prevents local governments from banning fertilizer sales until 2016; blocks environmental groups from suing to overturn controversial Everglades leases that Florida Gov. Scott and the Cabinet approved with sugar companies; accelerates the permitting for natural gas pipelines that originate in other states; and forbids water management districts from cutting back groundwater pumping by any entity that builds a desalination plant to increase its potential water supply, among about 20 other topics."

This lengthy, environmentally insensitive bill is expected to come before the full Senate for a vote soon.

The League of Women Voters of Florida is dedicated to promoting an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources.  We need to make every effort to protect Florida's environment against the many and varied special interests who wish to profit at the expense of our natural resources and environment.

Please call or email your state Senator today and ask them to vote NO on HB 999 / SB 1684!  To find their contact information, please click here.