From Palm Beach Post and other sources

   Sugar lobbyists have pushed a bill through the Florida Legislature to allow them to delay reducing their pollution to the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, the St. Lucie River and the South Indian River Lagoon. The Governor signed the bill despite warnings it would endanger federal support for $8.4 billion in Everglades Restoration. Current law had required water managers to cleanse all runoff flowing into the Everglades by 2006. The bill moves the deadline back by 20 years. Federal Judge William Hoeveler denounced the bill as "clearly defective" and said the Governor apparently "has been misled by persons who do not have the best interest of the Everglades at heart". He said a special master will be appointed to monitor the state's handling of the cleanup. The judge repeated his earlier promise that the bill won't affect the state's obligation to clean at least the federally managed parts of the Everglades. Big Sugar's response was to attempt to have the judge removed from the case but they were unsuccessful. The bill also allows the South Florida Water Management District to continue a tax on all property owners in the region to pay for the cleanup. Clay Henderson, environmental consulting attorney, fears the Legislature's action will make it appear to Congress that Florida isn't as committed as it was to the Everglades. Under the bill, the Legislature would have to approve every project and how to pay for it, which means the Legislature, could postpone indefinitely any cleanup. The sugar industry gave $800,000 in state political contributions during the last election year.

   Before any more federal money is spent restoring the River of Grass, four federal agencies must certify the state is cleaning up the pollution. Young, R-Largo, chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, had the panel attach those strings to the $68 million appropriation because some lawmakers were concerned the state might break its promise to clean up the Everglades. The EPA, Dept. of Interior, Army Corps of Engineers, and the Justice Dept. will review the progress and report to Young's committee twice a year. Charles Lee of Audubon of Florida called Young's response "a pretty potent measure" to counteract what the Legislature and Bush did.