Wednesday June 8, 2022: Governor DeSantis Wednesday vetoed SB 2508 which would have curbed the power of the Army Corps and the South Florida Water Management District to manage water discharges from Lake Okeechobee.
In his veto message he wrote: "While the bill that was ultimately passed by the Legislature is an improvement over what was originally filed, SB 2508 still creates unnecessary and redundant regulatory hurdles that may compromise the timely execution and implementation of Everglades restoration projects, water control plans, and regulation schedules. For this reason, I withhold my approval of SB 2508 and do hereby veto the same."
During a news conference in Fort Myers Beach Wednesday the Governor acknowledged the overwhelming opposition to the measure from environmental interests and the tourism industry.
In his remarks Wednesday, the Governor also highlighted his administration's support for efforts to restore the Everglades, and curb the nutrient tainted water releases from Lake Okeechobee. He made it clear that algae blooms originating in the lake have polluted Florida waterways, killed wildlife and hurt the state's number one industry. "Some of these communities got hit. It hurt the tourism, it hurt the restaurants, it hurt the overall economy," he said.
Critics said the bill would benefit big sugar interests to the determined of the environment, and they condemned the secretive way in which it was originally introduced. Republican State Senator Ben Albritton of Barstow filed the measure in February as a budget conforming bill which limited public input. Even the Governor was critical of the way it was originally introduced calling it an attempt to circumvent the hearing process.
"One of the bills, I know a lot of people were asking about, this 2508, that was trying to chance some of the stuff that was being done, I just want to let you know, 2508, I heard ya, we have vetoed that," said the Governor to cheers from those in attendance.
The Governor also pointed out that since he took office his administration has allocated d $3.3 billion for water resource protection projects around the state as well as for Everglades restoration efforts.
Captain Daniel Andrews of 'Captains for Clean Water' praised the veto saying - "When you look at these record investments that the Governor has put in to Everglades restoration and really prioritized the projects that actually getting the job done. The EAA Reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee to restore the flow the way nature intended. We're confident."
South Florida Water Management District Board Chairman Chauncey Goss credited the DeSantis Administration's Everglades restoration efforts which he said are already showing signs of improvement. "We are now moving way more water into Everglades National Park.," said Goss. "We now see a river of grass, that's what we're supposed to see. So we're really excited about that."