MONROE COUNTY’S GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS MET WITH STATE LEGISLATORS AND OFFICIALS DURING FLORIDA KEYS DAY

 TALLAHASSEE — The entire Monroe County Board of County Commissioners was present Wednesday to witness the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government unanimously advance Senate Bill 770 (the Florida Keys Stewardship Act), sponsored by Senators Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) and Anitere Flores (R-Miami).

The Commissioners – Mayor Heather Carruthers, Mayor Pro Tem George Neugent, David Rice, Sylvia Murphy and Danny Kohlage – were among a large contingent of government, business and civic leaders participating in Florida Keys Day, hosted by State Rep. Holly Raschein (R-Key Largo). Raschein also is the House sponsor of the Stewardship Act.

Raschein welcomed Flores, who addressed the group about an hour after the vote was taken. Flores said it was one of the first times she was cheered as she entered a room.

The vote in the Senate subcommittee puts the Stewardship Act one step closer to passing. The Act calls for the state to invest $25 million each year for 10 years in the Keys for water quality, restoration and protection; water supply protection; and land for critical habitat protection, public safety in case of an evacuation, property rights and military base protection.

The group also met with Simpson, Speaker of the House Steve Cristafulli, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Secretary of State Ken Detzner, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, Sen. Dwight Bullard and other government officials from the Department of Economic Opportunity, Department of Transporation, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate, Office of Insurance Regulation and Citizens Property Insurance.

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