The big story in Florida that's gained the attention of everyone except Rick Scott of late has been the toxic algae blooms that are swallowing South Florida, along with a good part of the fishing industry, property values, and tourism.
But just because Scott's been ignoring the problem doesn't mean he isn't focused on water quality in Florida. No sir, because while Floridans were distracted by the encroaching toxic guacamole oozing into their waterways, Scott took advantage of the absence of members in his Environmental Regulation Commission to move up a vote to green light new water quality standards that would increase the amount of carcinogens in Florida's water.
Under the proposal, the acceptable levels of toxins will be increased for more than two dozen known carcinogens and decreased for 13 currently regulated chemicals. DEP, however, touted the part of the plan that will impose new rules on 39 other chemicals that are not currently regulated, including two carcinogens.
Critics say this is paving the way for tracking in Florida, which members balked at. But why would they move the vote up several months to take advantage of a less than full ERC?
As usual there are more questions than answers, yet the governor can't be bothered.
Last week the RNC announced that Rick Scott would be among the speakers at their Donald Trump hate and bigotry-fest convention this week. Now Scott has mysteriously gone missing from the speaking schedules and it's unclear from various reports if he'll be speaking at all.
However, not to worry. As one of Trump's number one fans, Scott has been made available as a media surrogate who will no doubt gladly contribute to the GOP false narrative themed convention week today as they continue with "Make America Work Again" day. Scott is, after all, an expert at spinning job creation fiction, so he'll fit right in.
Whether Scott is allowed to speak at the convention this year or shunned and hidden away as he was when the GOP convention was hosted in his home state last time, Floridians should be aware that he will still be giving an assist to Trump in more ways than one.
The event will be held at Trump's golf resort in Miami and all the big names who regularly purchase rights to Florida's business interests will be there.
One name in particular jumps out, not because it's unusual, but because of the timing.
That name would be Pepe Fanjul Sr. of Big Sugar fame. Big sugar, as in the industry that is currently contributing to the environmental disaster unfolding in Florida, flooding many wealthy Republican areas down south with the stench of thick, green, festering algae goo, clogging canals, killing fish and manatees, and beaching boats as some residents flee their homes in search of fresh air and clean water.
So it seems like the perfect storm that Big Sugar would join forces with one of their biggest recipients, Rick Scott, and add Donald Trump to their donation list. Should Trump become President (God help us) just think of all the destruction he could cause in a state already ruled by developers with free reign and industries who pollute with abandon as Scott and the GOP look the other way with their hands out.
One slight problem involved here, a lot of big Republican donors down there also have to live there.
Then again, those same donors are rich enough to move somewhere else once the Everglades and the waterways in South Florida have been destroyed. Not so much the little guys who are paying the real price for Big Sugar and their puppets the GOP and Rick Scott.
The little guy in Florida's only recourse is their vote. Let's hope voters remember what's at stake this November.
