Active Action Alerts that need your help:

Urge the Obama Administration and the EPA to Restore Money for Beach Monitoring and Strengthen Water Quality Standards

Sign the Petition Today!

SB 724 OUTFALL BILL

This year the Florida legislature has put renewed attack on the 2008 ocean outfall bill that outlaws the archaic practice of dumping 396,000,000 gallons a day of inadequately treated sewage into the coastal waters of southeast Florida. Last year your voices were heard and the attempt to delay the implementation of the outfall law was never brought to a vote in the Senate.

In the 2012 version of the bill, the shut-down date of 2025 for the sewage outfalls has not been extended.  It remains 2025, which was the date to which all agreed when the bill was written in 2008.  However, according to the analysis the 2012 bill:

• Extends compliance deadlines by which ocean outfalls must meet Advanced Water Treatment (AWT) standards from 2018 to 2020.  It also extends the date for submission of a plan by the discharging permit holder from 2013 to 2014.
• Allows utilities to comply with the 60 percent reuse requirement from their ENTIRE SERVICE AREAS RATHER THAN JUST FROM OCEAN OUTFALLS by 2025.  This provision will allow utilities the flexibility to find the most cost-effective method to achieve a 60 percent reuse for their service areas, however, it may also reduce the percentage of reuse derived from ocean outfalls.  The bill specifies that only facilities which shared a common ocean outfall as of July 1, 2008, are required to meet the 60 percent reuse requirement individually but may contract to share or transfer this responsibility with other utilities.
• Allows utilities to continue backup discharges through ocean outfalls that are part of a functioning reuse system or other wastewater management system authorized by the DEP.
• Specifies a complete plan be submitted to the Legislature by October 2014 with an update due by July 2018.
• Requires the DEP, the South Florida Water Management District and affected utilities to evaluate the detailed plans and recommend to the Legislature adjustments, if necessary, to the reuse requirements in this bill.  The report is due to the Legislature by February 2015.

This bill has passed the FL House and is in the FL Senate Budget Committee with 1 more potential stop to the floor.

Click to read letter sent to the Florida Senate from environmental and industry organizations.

Recent article: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-water-reuse-deadline-delay-20120220,0,3479207.story

BUT, THERE IS STILL TIME TO STOP IT! We are asking for your help:

First:
Email the Florida Senate Committee on Rules and tell Chairman Senator John Thrasher you are opposed to the Miguel Diaz de la Portilla Senate Bill 724 (Domestic Wastewater Discharged Through Ocean Outfalls) and request the Committee on Rules not schedule SB 724 for a vote before the Senate.

Second:
If you live in Florida email your FL Senator and tell them you oppose Senate Bill 724 and if the bill comes before the Senate ask them to vote against it. (Click here to find your Senator).

If you do not live in Florida you can still help, Tell VISIT FLORIDA®, the states official tourism marketing corporation you do not want to visit Florida to swim in the sewage polluted ocean: http://www.visitflorida.com/feedback/

Help Restore the Gulf

Please ask your Senators to support the RESTORE Act (S. 1400) to ensure that fines collected from the BP oil spill are used to support ecosystem restoration in the Gulf of Mexico.

The BP disaster released millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf, causing devastating impacts to the region’s beaches, coastal marshes, barrier islands, and wildlife. Yet, unless Congress takes action, fines issued through the Clean Water Act will be used for unrelated federal spending instead of urgently needed environmental restoration.

Restoring the Gulf will provide major benefits to the natural environment, and will also help protect the region’s economy including tourism, recreation, and commercial fishing.

Please TAKE ACTIONto support this bipartisan bill and ensure that penalties from the BP disaster are dedicated to restoring the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem!

TELL EPA TO PROTECT BEACHGOERS!

A new EPA proposal to address pollution at U.S. beaches contains the startling conclusion that EPA thinks it is acceptable for 1 in 28 people to get sick when they go to the beach. Children are especially vulnerable, perhaps because they tend to submerge their heads more often and are more likely to swallow water when swimming. EPA’s proposal also allows water testing to be averaged over a period as long as 90 days and for one in every four samples to exceed safe levels, before pollution reduction is required. Both of these approaches could mask a serious pollution problem and expose beachgoers to an unnecessary risk of illness.

Swimmers and surfers shouldn’t be exposed to high levels of bacteria—and have increased chances of getting sick—on one day just because the levels of contamination are lower on another day. America doesn’t need loopholes like this in the safety standards that protect us at the beach. But your action can help protect public health at recreational beaches throughout the U.S.

Voice your concerns to EPA’s Administrator, Lisa Jackson, and urge her to utilize the best available science to strengthen the existing 1986 criteria, which inadequately protects public health.

SB 604 by Sen. Dean – Fertilizer Preemption Bill
In Environmental Preservation and Conservation on Monday, January 30

Senate Bill  S 604 – Limited Certification for Urban Landscape Commercial Fertilizer Application by Sen. Dean, Charles S. “Charlie”, Sr. will be heard in the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation committee next Monday at 3:30 in room 110 of the Senate Office Building here in the Capitol.
If there is any way you can make it to the Capitol to attend the meeting, PLEASE COME!  Bring examples from your community demonstrating the cost of nutrient impaired waters to public health, the local economy, and quality of life.
We need to make sure every member of the committee knows how much this bill will cost local communities in terms of worsened water quality and in terms of higher taxes and fees.  Yesterday, the House fertilizer bill, HB 421 passed in committee by a vote of 9-6 because we lost two of our declared NO votes (Reps. Hooper and Van Zant) and now the Senate bill will be heard in its second of three committees.  A bill has to pass both the House and Senate in order to become law, so we have a good opportunity to stop it here.

SB 604 has not yet been amended to match HB 421, but we anticipate that it will.  The expected amendment will exempt lawn care workers who have taken a 6 hour course from local fertilizer application bans during the rainy season.  This is the most important part of local lawn fertilizer ordinances.  Source control is both the most effective and least expensive way to protect water quality.

Fertilizer feeds more than grass.  It also feeds algae that clogs Florida’s waters, hurts our water related industries (recreational and commercial fishing, tourism, and waterfront real estate), and presents a threat to public health.  The Olga Water Treatment Plant that provides drinking water to 30,000 southwest Floridians had to be closed because of an algae bloom (anabaena) that produced nerve toxins.

The contact information for members of Senate Environmental Conservation and Protection follows.  Please contact each one, but if one of them represents your County, be sure to contact them at the very least.   A phone call to the Capitol during business hours Thursday, Friday, and between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday is also good.

Thank you for helping save Florida’s waters from nutrient pollution!

TALKING POINTS

Sen. Charles S. Dean, Chair (and sponsor of SB 604)
Delegations: Baker, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Madison, Marion, Suwannee, Taylor
District Phone: (352) 860-5175
Local Phone: (850) 487-5017
dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Nancy Detert
Delegations: Charlotte, Manatee, Sarasota
District Phone: (941) 480-3547
Local Phone: (850) 487-5081
detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Dennis Jones
Delegations: Pinellas
District Phone: (727) 549-6411
Local Phone: (850) 487-5065
jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Jack Latvala
Delegations: Hillsborough, Pinellas
District Phone: (727) 556-6500
Local Phone: (850) 487-5075
latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Steve Oelrich, V. Chair
Delegations: Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Union
District Phone: (352) 375-3555
Local Phone: (850) 487-5020
oelrich.steve.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Nan Rich
Delegations: Broward, Miami-Dade
District Phone: (954) 747-7933
Local Phone: (850) 487-5103
rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Eleanor Sobel
Delegations: Broward
District Phone: (954) 924-3693
Local Phone: (850) 487-5097
sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov

Okalossa County Commission Beach Project Permit Vote

On January 17th, Okaloosa County Commissioners will be voting on whether or not to move forward with a highly controversial beach project permit due to the concern that the proposed sand is not good beach quality. A number of homeowners who would be impacted by the project took the DEP/County to court over the beach project permit. The Judge did recently rule in their favor that the sand quality did not meet required standards. However, DEP Secretary Vinyard rejected the Judge’s Recommended Order for the OK Island case and ordered the permit to be issued regardless of the science shown.  This Final Order has a very radical interpretation of our state’s Sand Rule regulations.  See Final Order. It is clear to us that DEP wants to make the Sand Rule irrelevant. We learned that the homeowners are attempting to appealing case.

In the mean time, the Commission is actually considering dropping the permit all together on their January 17th Agenda. We are asking all Okaloosa County residents to please take a moment and call your County Commissioners prior to meeting and/or show up to the meeting that night to let them know that you would like them to drop the project permit. Below is a statement from your local legislators opposed to the project and a recent Op-ed from a scientific expert.

Resolution – Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation Beach Renourishment 2011Nov15

Independent Expert Op-ed

Other related Media

http://www.thedestinlog.com/articles/okaloosa-19327-beach-judge.html

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/okaloosa-46309-island-restoration.html

 

Fertilizer Bill

Surfrider members and supporters are urged to call or email Sen. Charlie Dean and Rep. Jimmie Smith and respectfully let them know you are opposed to SB 604 and HB 421. They are designed to override bills by cities and counties to restrict fertilizer use for protection of our rivers.

• Senator Charlie Dean dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov (SB 604) Toll Free: 1-866-538-2831
• Representative Jimmie Smith Jimmie.Smith@myfloridahouse.gov  (HB 421) Phone: (850) 488-0805

Flagler Pier Surf Zone Meeting

The Flagler Beach City Commission will discuss expanding the no-surf zone around the pier from 150 feet to 300 feet. The regular meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 105 S. 2nd St.

Extending the no surf zone to 300′ would have far reaching implications beyond  simply creating a larger buffer between the fisherman and the surfers. Flagler Beach has been the breeding ground for some of the best surfers in the country all coming from our quaint city. That will change if the buffer zone is extended. The waves break the best closer to the pier and this is the sweet spot that allows the youth to become great athletes and helps to serve as a place for the youth and adults alike. It helps give the youth a place to express themselves, exercise (which nowadays is a feat in itself), and gives them a place to occupy there time instead of hanging in other areas. This buffer has sufficed for many years and should suffice for many more to come. Please re consider this un needed and damaging extension of the buffer zone.

Sign the petition!

Protect funding for the National Ocean Policy and Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is planning to propose an amendment this week to the FY12 Commerce Appropriations bill that will seek to eliminate funding for the National Ocean Policy and Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning. The amendment may also threaten funding of other current and longstanding ocean and coastal planning programs.

TAKE ACTION: http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4581

Even if folks have participated in the alert previously, it will still generate new emails for senate targets.

PS – we also have a new alert in support of BEACH Act Reauthorization which is timely to promote as well: http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4883

 

Local beach threatened – Surfrider Miami needs your action!

Miami Chapter is battling to stop a concrete breakwater structure planned for Miami Beach. Coastal armoring wrecks surfbreaks and beaches and we cannot let this happen on OUR beach. Unfortunately, the project is moving forward and we need to do all we can to halt it.

Miami-Dade County Dept. of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plan to install an approximately 1,000-foot long segmented submerged artificial reef structure approximately 500-feet offshore of the beach at the 63rd Street erosion ‘hotspot’ of Miami Beach. The reef ball structure would be installed as an EXPERIMENT to control erosion and reduce wave energy with habitat mitigation. However only an Environmental Assessment was filed under NEPA.

There remains a number of outstanding issues with the project, especially the likely impact of downdrift erosion. The 6.5 foot structures would be placed in 8 feet of water right where the waves break on a decent North swell. It would KILL this histortical break.

What can you, as an individual surfer/beach lover do?

We need you to make a few quick phone calls THIS WEEK and we have all you need right here:

Please Call Your Senators and US Representative and Voice Your Opposition to the Proposed  63rd Street Experimental Reef Ball Project

Senator Nelson: 202-224-5274
Senator Rubio: 202-224-3041 or 305-418-8553
Congressman Diaz-Balart: 202-225-4211 or 305-470-8555
Congressman Rivera: 202-225-2778 or 305-222-0160
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen: 202-225-3931 or 305-668-2285
Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz: 202-225-7931 or 305-963-5724
Congresswoman Wilson: 202-225-4506 or 305-690-5905

Please raise any of the following points you would like:

1.       Budget Concerns
a.       Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County elected officials and voters didn’t ask for this “experimental” project
b.      The US Army Corps of Engineers has free reign to impose this very expensive experimental project on the local citizens
c.       The project is a waste of federal money – it’s unlikely to be successful on its own merits and will leave the local people to deal with the end result
d.      The money spent on this could be much better used elsewhere in this time of debt crisis

2.       Safety concerns
a.       Submerged breakwaters are attractive to swimmers and they can be dragged over the structures – Tampa area incidents as examples
b.      The structures will exacerbate several dangerous rip currents that are already present in an unguarded area of the beach
c.       Navigational hazard for boaters

3.       Downdrift beach erosion
a.       Could offset any project benefits/potential cost savings
b.      Amounts to providing beach width to some residents at the expense of others’ beaches
c.       Very unlikely project will really be successful

To find out more about this project and its history go to www.surfridermiami.org/chapter-initiatives-2/stop-reefballs-in-south-florida

PLEASE take 15 minutes out of your 2400 minute work week to help save a surf break. JUST DO IT !

Photo Petition Alert!

No matter where you live in Florida, chances are that you are not far from a toxic algae outbreak during the summer. Fertilizer, sewage, and animal manure pollution feeds the ugly green slime that grows fast this time of year and threatens our ponds, springs, streams, rivers, canals and bays.

We need photos of that ugly algae — a picture speaks a thousand words! You can help make the case for strong pollution standards by submitting a photo telling us the reason you want to stop water pollution – whether that’s a picture of you with a sign or a shot of your local slime.

We need to gather as many photos and signatures as we can before next week (for the FDEP meeting on 7/27 in Leesburg) and then many more over the next month to use in the congressional fight.

http://action.sierraclub.org/slimecrimes

Opposes House Bill That Would Waive Environmental Laws Within 100 Miles of Borders, Coasts

Hearing on H.R. 1505 10 am today, 1334 Longworth House Office Building. Maps that show impact of this bill.

The proposed legislation would waive 36 environmental and other laws for Department of Homeland Security activities on federal, state-owned and private lands within 100 miles of U.S. borders and coastline.

The proposed legislation would give unprecedented authority to a single federal agency to destroy wildlife habitat and wetlands, impair downstream water quality and restrict activities such as hunting, fishing and grazing. It would leave Congress and the public without a voice, even though at stake are hundreds of popular destinations including Glacier National Park, the Florida Everglades and beaches along Cape Cod, the Great Lakes and the California coastline.

Urge lawmakers to reject this and any future attempt to undercut fundamental environmental protections that have been on the books for decades.

Background

H.R. 1505 was introduced on April 13, 2011, by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, and would apply to an area that encompasses 10 whole states, including Florida and Hawaii. Environmental and other laws this proposed legislation would waive include the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Wilderness Act, Federal Land Policy and Management Act, National Park Service Organic Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Coastal Zone Management Act. In late July, the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee is expected to hold a hearing on another bill, H.R. 1581. The Wilderness and Roadless Release Act would open up millions of acres of currently protected undeveloped national forests and wild lands to drilling, mining and other industrial development.

 

OUTFALL BILL -SB796/HB 613

The proposal, House Bill 613 by Rep. Carlos Trujillo (R-Miami) and Senate Bill 796 by Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R-Miami) and Senator Sobel (D-Broward) , allows for less wastewater treatment, an increase in the amount of secondarily treated sewage being discharged directly into South Florida coastal marine waters and the injection of sewage into the Biscayne and Upper Floridian Aquifers — shallow drinking water supplies for South Florida and the Keys. This bill is trying to undo the efforts we took 2 years ago in passing this bill and delays the requirement for compliance with a state mandate to eliminate ocean outfall, improve wastewater treatment and beneficially reuse a portion of that wastewater by five years.

Florida’s tremendous growth over the past decade has raised critical concern in the Legislature over how we manage our water, not only for drinking but also for waste disposal.  Communities throughout Florida have seen the benefits of embracing readily available and proven technology for advanced wastewater treatment and re-use, with some communities reaching upwards of 80 percent efficiency. Unfortunately, this legislation would reverse these trends and detrimentally impact the treatment and reuse of water of the largest municipalities in our state, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

These Bills allow wastewater disposal to be accomplished by:
1. Treating Less (to a lower standard) -If a facility reuses 100% of its wastewater it is exempt from the AWT treatment standard. (HB-­‐613/ 73-­‐79 + page 2 of staff analysis.)

2. Injecting More ( Redefining Reuse) -The bills provide a means to achieve 100% reuse by redefining reuse as Recharge into the Biscayne and Upper Floridan Aquifers ( HB-­‐613/ lines 6,7-­‐ 91,92 )

3. Injecting into Shallow Drinking Water Aquifers- More troubling, these bills redefine “reuse” to allow for injection into the Biscayne and Upper Floridan Aquifers. (HB-­‐613
/Lines 6,7 – 91,92.) These are shallow drinking water aquifers. This means, under this legislation reused water will be injected into the drinking water resources for a significant portion of South Florida. While they say it is to “drinking water standards” that doesnt take into consideration that the nitrogen level is far too high for our reef which will be effective by offshore upwellings.

BOTTOM LINE!: This legislation significantly lowers the water quality standards and treatment requirements in the state allowing water treatment facilities to treat less, inject more, and inject into shallow drinking water aquifers.

Questions to have Senators Ask One-Pager

While the bill has passed in the House, our goal is to see to it that the Senator Budget Committee and other Senators to ask the hard questions before letting this bill move to the Senate Floor for voting.
Please contact your Senators and Representatives, ESPECIALLY if they are on this Budget Committee. Simply Log on to myfloridahouse.gov or myfloridasenate.gov and find your elected official or Call Toll free 1 (800) 342-2172 and have your Zip Code ready to be directed to your Representative or Senator.

Other relevant websites:

http://www.watereuse.org/files/s/docs/Layla_Llewelyn__Compatibility_Mode_.pdf
http://static-lobbytools.s3.amazonaws.com/pres /20110207_outfall_fact_sheet_2011updated.pdf
http://www.reefrelieffounders.com/news/2011/03/01/reef-rescue-florida-invites-northerns-to-come-and-swim-in-our-sewage/
http://www.freedivingspearfishing.com/forum/florida/3146-florida-legislature-is-moving-to-derail-the-ocean-outfall-legislation.html
http://www.miamidade.gov/greenprint/planning/library/milestone_one/water.pdf
http://blueoceaninitiative.com/2011/03/03/florida-invites-northerners-to-come-and-swim-in-sewage/

 

GROWTH MANAGEMENT BILL – (w/ COASTAL MANAGEMENT COMPONENTS)

The Env Preservation Committee will vote on a major Senate growth management bill at 9:15 a.m., Thursday, April 14. This bill picks up most of the objectionable parts of the previously passed House bill, HB 7129. Please contact the committee members below (calls are best and emails are second) and ask them to oppose PCB CS/SB1122. Surfrider Foundation will be at this Committee Meeting to make statements.

Among other things this damaging legislation would increase the likelihood of more billboard sprawl, repeals 9J-5 and 9J-11 which are the underpinnings of growth management for the last 25 years, provides for unlimited plan amendments, adds weakening language to the existing, controversial “agricultural enclave” provisions, eliminates the financial feasibility test for all plan amendments, limits local governments’ ability to make developers pay for infrastructure impacts, prohibits local governments from any type of land use referendum process, extends all local permits for a 2 year period, prohibits super majority votes on plan amendments, prohibits new and/or increased impact fees for 2 years, weakens Rural Land Stewardship requirements, and substantially limits state review comments on plan amendments.

To protect our most critical economic asset, our natural areas, and our quality of life that is so dependent on effective comprehensive planning, call these Legislators now and ask them to oppose PCB CS/SB1122.

Charles Dean, Chairman, (850) 487-5017; dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov

Steve Oelrich, Vice-Chair, (850) 487-5020; oelrich.steve.web@flsenate.gov

Nancy Detert phone (850) 487-5081; detert.nancy.web@flsenate.gov

Dennis Jones phone (850) 487-5065; jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov

Jack Latvala phone (850) 487-5075; latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov

Nan Rich phone (850) 487-5103; rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov

Eleanor Sobel phone (850) 487-5097; sobel.eleanor.web@flsenate.gov

UPDATED: Florida House Water Quality Alert: HB 457– Fertilizer

Rep. Tobia has filed a strike all (amendment) to HB 457 that preempts sales retrospectively and prospectively.  It preempts stronger ordinances prospectively and probably retrospectively as well.

If the House adopts the Tobia amendment on Thursday ALL current (no grandfathering) and future ordinances will be preempted. Representative Ingram is fighting against the Tobia amendment, as are the Association of Counties and the League of Cities.

Please call your Representatives before 5 p.m. on today (Wednesday) (contact info below):

Sample message:  I urge the Representative to OPPOSE the Tobia amendment to HB 457 that preempts all past and future local control of fertilizer pollution.  Please make sure HB 457 does not preempt home rule for water quality protection.

Talking points
1. Localities have already adopted more stringent ordinances than the “model ordinance” and water quality has improved in those areas!
2. Lawns are not agriculture.  This is not about food production.  But lawns do contribute to nutrient run off.
3. The cost of removing nitrogen from Tampa Bay through storm water treatment projects ranges from $40,000-$200,000 per ton (according to the treatment method used.) Source control is the best (and cheapest) water protection strategy.
4. Nutrient pollution that damages water quality with algal blooms affects these Florida businesses:
·         Florida tourism is a $65.2 billion annual industry that generated 1,007,000 jobs in 2008

·         Fresh and saltwater fishing generated $6.1 billion and 52,945 jobs

·         The commercial fishing industry generated $5.6 billion and  108,695 jobs

5. Lawn care companies can still do business under the more stringent ordinances.  They are free to apply iron, magnesium, potassium, compost based fertilizers, etc. during the summer rainy season.  They can also do pest control and mow, trim, etc.  These ordinances put no one out of work.
6. Many Florida fertilizer companies already offer “summer safe” products and Florida companies have gone from 2% of the market to between 70 and 90% of the market in areas with summer application bans.
7. The ordinances do NOT affect the sale of plant material, potting soil, or feeds

 

Congress Must Not Block EPA from Protecting Our Waters from Pesticides!

Earlier this week Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas introduced legislation to exempt users of pesticides that spray over water from having to obtain a federal Clean Water Act permit.  S. 718 is similar to HR 872, the so-called Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, which easily passed the House on March 31st.  The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

Contact our Senators and urge them to oppose S. 718!  Tell them this bill would prevent EPA from protecting public health and the environment from harmful pesticide pollution in our waters.  For more information on the issue, please read the NRDC/San Francisco Baykeeper fact sheet, Keeping Our Waters Safe.

Supported reform of both the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (Cat Fund) and Citizens Property Insurance Corp

Surfrider Foundation has actively supported reform of both the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (Cat Fund) and Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in an effort to end the practice of allowing these government-run agencies to subsidize reckless coastal development in the most hazardous areas of the state.  One example of support is an opinion editorial authored by FWF President Manley Fuller, which ran in papers statewide and can be read by clicking on the following link – http://bit.ly/hUkYeP.

With just weeks left this legislative session, we need your help reaching out to the Florida Legislature to let them know this issue is important to us statewide.  While there has been some movement with regards to reforming the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp., our next hurdle is addressing the hidden “hurricane taxes” via a Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (Cat Fund) amendment.  Not only will a Cat Fund-related amendment reduce the “hurricane taxes” that are being tacked on to the policies of all Floridians, but this legislation will protect Florida, its residents and the environment from irrational insurance subsidies – eliminating subsidized insurance for multi-million dollar beachfront homes on Florida’s coast.

Simply enter your zip code and you will be directed to a list of your local Representatives and Senators that need to hear from you.  Click on their picture and then hit the “Contact” tab for their Capitol/Tallahassee office number.  you can find everything you need to get in touch by following this link – http://bit.ly/gg3lA0