The one arm of party support Florida Democrats could always count on was the environmentalists. No other party faction has raised its voice louder against conservative leadership or carried as much weight against GOP policies as the state's conservation activists.
Until now.
All of a sudden environmentalists have fallen silent. Listen closely: The political rhetoric is gone. Like a blown light bulb. We don't hear a peep.
If you looked in on Wednesday's House committee meeting on water resources, you witnessed something very rare: environmentalists on Prozac. Or a good imitation thereof. Let's just say these folks were greatly subdued. Officials from Audubon Florida, the Everglades Foundation, Sierra Club, 1000 Friends of Florida, all of them ... they were there to give direction, yes, but either they made good-tempered, even jolly speeches about what amounted to a business-backed plan to address the state's water resources, or they were "waiving in favor."
This is fairly new in my experience. Only Audubon Executive Director Eric Draper spelled out some problems, but by his own admission, they were things that could be worked out.
The only protest Democratic lawmakers on the State Affairs Committee could muster was their vote. Even though there was no outrage or prepared remarks before the roll call beyond Rep. Mark Pafford's, all Dems but one -- Daytona Beach Rep. Dwayne Taylor -- voted against advancing the proposal (PCB SAC 15-01). It passed anyway, 12-5.
A day later we all got word that Pafford of West Palm Beach, leader of the 38-member Democratic Caucus, would give a press conference on water legislation. Here it comes, we thought, the Democrats are going to roast this new policy that would impose controversial "best management practices" on natural springs, the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee. But no. The press conference was a non-event. It was like a rained-out fireworks display -- full of fizzles and duds and fuses Pafford couldn't light to save his life. (See the transcript of his press conference in the attachment below.)
Could it be that Rick Scott and the Legislature stole the environmentalists' groove? I think so.
Now everybody -- not just the conservation crowd -- wants to fix Florida. Everybody wants clean water today and for the future. Everybody wants to protect our natural resources. And neither the environmentalists nor the Democrats know how to deal with life when the traditional opposition is on the same page as they are.
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, lists first among his priorities "the environment, including the Indian River Lagoon." Senate President Andy Gardiner has identified implementing Amendment 1 -- the purchase and protection of conservation lands and natural resources -- as a primary session focus.
Meanwhile, House State Affairs Chairman Matt Caldwell, R-Fort Myers, said of a statewide water management plan, "My goal is to get the policy right. Once we get the policy right, then we're going to figure out how to pay for what we need to do."
Then there's Gov. Rick Scott. For his first two years in office he was a poster boy for environmental neglect. Now it's fairly obvious he sees solving Florida's water problems as a legacy issue. It has become personal to him. He's taken ownership of getting it done. Scott put $150 million in his next budget for Everglades restoration and habitat preservation.
In addition, he wants the Legislature to designate a quarter of Amendment 1 money -- expected to bring in $757 million the first year -- for restoration work only. If the Legislature goes along, Scott's impetus will be responsible for $5 billion for Everglades projects over the life of the 20-year amendment. And that could cover the entire cost of the work.
On Feb. 4, Scott even sent a letter to Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, urging Congress to reject cuts proposed by President Obama to budgets needed for the repair of the dike system around Lake Okeechobee and for Everglades restoration.
The bottom line is this: Environmentalists so used to disappointment, delays and lack of commitment from state and federal leaders, suddenly realize they might actually see a restored Everglades in their lifetime. I think maybe they're still in shock.
But consider the effect on the Democratic Party of Florida. I'm sensing party leaders feel abandoned at a time when they're trying to rebuild, when they need a fully engaged fighting force heading into a presidential election season.
All the money, all the opportunities at their doorstep. Florida environmentalists are getting their way at last and they know it. For now, anyway, it's taken a lot of fight out of them.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
