The 2008 Legislative Session of the Florida Legislature
ended
on May 2.
Budget
Both the House and Senate approved the FY 2008-2009 State budget,
which includes the approximately $8 million needed to launch
$300 million in bonds for Florida Forever next year and $50
million for Everglades restoration.
Successor Bill
Both the House and Senate earlier unanimously approved legislation
(Senate bill 542) to extend the Florida Forever program through
2020 at $300 million a year.
Click here to view a summary of the bill.
Thank You For Your Support
Both of these legislative victories occurred during an extremely
tight budget year --
one of the most challenging ever. Many thanks to all of who have
long advocated for
Florida Forever and who contacted your elected leaders. Your
support made all
of the difference in this effort.
We Still Need Your Help
Before you sit back and relax, however, we would like to ask
you to do one more thing. Please contact your
state senators and representatives, as well as the following
key
legislative leaders, and thank them for supporting Florida Forever
this year:
• Senate President Ken Pruitt
• Senator Burt Saunders
• Representative Stan Mayfield
• Representative Will Kendrick
• Senator Lisa Carlton
• Senator JD Alexander
• House Speaker Marco Rubio
• Representative Ray Sansom
It is important
that they hear from you, because we will be calling on them
again next
year to increase Florida Forever funding. The amount of money
allocated for Florida Forever
has not changed in 19 years, while the costs of land have more
than doubled. Meanwhile,
the current real estate slump provides historic opportunities
for land conservation.
With additional funding we can take advantage of opportunities
to save our natural lands
before they are lost forever.
Click here for contact information for members of the Florida
Senate.
Click here for contact information for members of the Florida
House of Representatives.
Click here for tips for communicating with legislators.
Join the Florida Forever Coalition
Find out how your organization can officially join our coalition
and add its voice to the
effort to preserve Florida's future environmental and economic
well-being.
Click here to join the coalition.
