**PRESS RELEASE**
SIERRA CLUB RELEASES LEGISLATOR SCORECARD
TALLAHASSEE, FL.
(April 15, 2020) – Sierra Club Florida has released its Florida Legislator
Scorecard for 2020. Designed to give a snapshot of legislators’ votes on the environmental bills for which
Sierra Club Florida dedicated considerable time and resources, it also includes “thumbs up and thumbs down”
award winners noting those legislators who either championed or actively worked
against the environment.
Republicans almost unanimously voted against
Sierra Club’s environmental priorities by:
·
preempting
local regulation of over-the-counter drugs and cosmetics to the state;
specifically aimed at ending Key West’s ban on the sale of sunscreens
containing octinoxate or oxybenzone as they are harmful to coral reefs. (SB
172)
·
continuing
the assault on growth management by requiring that each local comprehensive
plan include a new private property rights element which adds no additional
property rights protection for individuals and could cost as much as $100,000
depending on the size of the community. It subjects more municipalities to
development orders superseding comprehensive plans and further limits the
authority of county governments to manage growth within their borders and could
clear the way for high-density development in designated rural areas. (SB 410)
·
making
it harder for citizens to put initiatives to amend the State Constitution on
the ballot. Includes (1) increasing the required number of signatures before
the Supreme Court looks at the language of the petition, (2) requiring that
signatures would have to come from 1/2, instead of 1/4, of the state’s
congressional districts, (3) invalidating an elector’s signature if a petition
gatherer’s paperwork is not in order, (4) reducing the “shelf life” of signed
petitions to a single year, (5) charging the petition sponsor for all printing
and signature verifying costs, and (6) allowing any citizen to challenge a
petition gatherer’s credentials. (SB 1794)
·
requiring
DOT to create a master plan for EV charging stations along state highways. But
the bill also makes it easier for utilities to use conservation easements on
agricultural property for linear facilities, including oil and gas pipelines.
(SB 7018)
“Thumbs Up” awards were given to Democratic
Representative Anna Eskamani, who voted with the Sierra Club 100% of the time,
and 14 of her Democratic colleagues, who supported 85% of Sierra Club’s
positions.
“Florida House Democrats were the champions
for Florida’s environment this session,” said Sierra Club Florida’s Chapter
Director, Frank Jackalone. “But only Rep. Eskamani withstood the political
pressure and opposed the weak “Clean Waterways Act.” (SB 712)
“Thumbs Down” awards were given to Rep. James Grant for his continued
assault on citizen initiatives and growth management and Rep. Spencer Roach and
Sen. Rob Bradley for arguing that Key West’s ban on sale of sunscreens harmful
to the coral reef was an assault on skin cancer prevention.
Deborah Foote, Director of Government
Affairs for Sierra Club commented, “The Florida legislature continues to thwart
the will of its citizens by taking away local control and handing it over to
developers and other moneyed interests. The upcoming election is the only way
to reverse this abysmal trend. We need to elect pro-environment legislators if
we want clean water, open spaces, and a healthier way of life.”
Sierra Club Florida hopes the
Scorecard will raise awareness on how legislators vote on the environment.
“Despite full knowledge of our degraded waters and rampant development, the
legislature capitulated to industry and did very little to make things better,”
said Jackalone.
The full Scorecard may be viewed by clicking here.
A chapter of the national Sierra
Club, Sierra Club Florida is made up of volunteer leaders and civic activists
representing over 240,000 members and supporters from all over the state.
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