Four ex-governors back restoring Florida Forever funding

Environmental groups have lined up four ex-governors -- Reubin Askew, Bob Graham, Bob Martinez and Jeb Bush -- for their campaign to restore funding to the Florida Forever land-buying program.

Martinez himself took the microphone at a news conference on the shores of Tampa Bay Wednesday to tout the program's benefits and call for the Legislature to put money back into the popular program.

"I don't run into anybody that's against it," said Martinez, who was joined by Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan and Southwest Florida Water Management District board member Heidi McCree at the event at Tampa's waterfront Cypress Point Park. "It's a question of do we have the money."

He contended that since the program generally buys environmentally sensitive land owned by Florida residents, "you are helping the economy" by enabling it to get started again. Martinez was governor in 1990 when the program's predecessor, Preservation 2000, started.

This year, for the first time, lawmakers failed to put any money into the kitty for buying land, so now a group that includes the Trust for Public Land, the Nature Conservancy, the Florida Wildlife Federation and the Defenders of Wildlife are trying to get it restored. So far, however, no legislation has been filed, said Jill Austin of the Nature Conservancy.

[AP file photo: Bob Martinez]

Craig Pittman, Times Staff Writer

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Comments

[LEMIEUX=CRIST=SPECTER]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Randall Stevens]

What about restoring the funding to the Chiles Trust Fund?

[i passid duh ftac!]

If Martinez backs this, then it must be bad... Bob Martinez should be in jail for pulling the Great Lotto Scam on Floridians and Florida’s education system.

[Randall Stevens]

1:56 - Have you ever looked at what happened to federal dollars used for education shortly after the implementation of the lottery?

[jones]

These forever grants are a big problem. Countys like Walton County are lieing on applacations to get these grants handed out by the DCA. IT IS EASY FOR WALTON COUNTY, FOR ONE OF THE GUYS GIVING OUT THE GRANTS IS TOM PELHAM head of the DCA. He was or still is a Walton County stand by attorney and has been for years. He give Walton what ever they what leacving the DCA staffs hands tied. Walton has used false appraisals to get these grants. One project on a piece of property that had nothing on it the county appraisal stated there was a 21 story condo to try to get 14 million dollars. Walton seems to get one of these grants every other month. These grants are being devided up. They are not good for Florida are the tax payers.

[i passid duh ftac!]

Yes, Randall, I have... and very closely I might add. If folks seek someone to blame for Florida’s low-ranked, poor-producing, and dysfunctional education system, they need to look no further than Bob Martinez. That’s why Martinez should be in jail. His Great Lotto Scam was among the most tragic scams pull on Florida voters in history... followed by the FCAT in a close second... and Chuck Crist gaining substantial ground on both... as each day passes.

[Randall Stevens]

So you realize that federal money decreased after the implementation of the lottery...

Where would have lottery been without it...

I am not saying it is right... and quite frankly was a slap in the face of everyone who voted for it...

And I would also put a little blame on the democrats, who had control of the legislature for 122 years before the mid 1990's...

[Slight Hijack]

We should use the Lotto money to buy public land! That way all the homeless who are unemployable/ignorant and gambling (er "gaming") addicted can go live in tents on public lands.

PERFECT!

[cry foul]

Given some of the pork in the budget, regardless of tough times, and given the fact that the bonding arrangement for land buying allows us to front a small amount of money now for large purchases to be paid off over time, I can only think the legislature's failure to fund this program last year was an ideological one. Absolutely unacceptable.

[Gator (R)]

How much of Florida does the State currently own?

How much more does it need?

Where is the funding coming from?

Has it been used wisely in the past?

How much revenue has been lost taking and keeping it off the tax rolls?

Why doesn't everyone of those people that apparently support this throw in a couple grand? That should generate 10s of millions. I'll sell them my house to get them started.

Personally, I favor the concept but I believe people would be surprised by how much of land the state already owns.

[melvin]

Bob Martinez,while at HUD also said it as important to give people who did not have down payment money and bad credit a guaranteed home loan so the new homeowners could get home equity loans to buy things they wanted.
Never heard that on fox I'll bet!
"Many minority families find the pathway to homeownership blocked by persistent barriers. These barriers include the inability to come up with enough cash for a down payment, a lack of credit history, or a blemished credit record… discrimination, and the unfamiliar terms and unreliable information that are often part of the homebuying process. Minority families often face discrimination in conjunction with or in addition to these other barriers." Mel Martinez,HUD secretary,2003
(didn't hear that on fox either did ya!!!

[I was there]

Melvin - You've got the wrong Martinez. MEL Martinez was HUD Secretary, not BOB.

FTAC - You're aiming at the wrong target. Three of Bob Martinez's four budget recommendations to the Legislature used Lottery money to SUPPLEMENT -- not supplant -- General Revenue funds already going to education (the fourth recommendation fell just short of that goal). It was the Legislature, not Martinez, who subverted the will of the people on Lottery support for education. And has ever since.

[Just Sayin]

Gator(R) there are some Western States that are 2/3 owned by the Govt.

Remember Clinton banning all access to Federal land?

You could fly on a jet for an hour and not cross some swaths. Since they banned roads and access, some are posed to just burn.

In California, drug dealers are using Govt land to grow pot.

But at least the mice and birds and ants have a place they can call their own without the dreaded human anywhere to be found!!!

[Just Plain Evil]

Hey look it's Just Sprayin - on the wrong side of yet another issue. Hate lies and the corporae agenda. Sell the planet for profit. What a POS.

[how 'bout them democraps!]

oh no... the pig is back with a snout full of snot.

[Gator(R)]

Just Sayin - If I wasn't so lazy I'd track how long it takes Piggie-man to follow-up one of your posts with his blather. An hour and 18 minutes this time. Hopefully, he will do better next time.

That's an hour and 18 minutes your 'Hate lies and corporae agenda' can influence young impressionable minds before he can set them straight with his well thought out and informative response.

[Just Sayin]

Gator(R) did I post anything that is not factual?

Besides that, am I not allowed to have an opinion?

Funny how the Pig will call everyone that is not a Neo-Marxist like he is a Fascist; then he goes on to drown out your freedom of speech. That is, by definition, Fascism.

BTW, did you see Michael Moore on the Today show this morning? He hates Capitalists and therefore was asked to opine about Wall Street bonuses.

There the fat pig was, in a home built by a Capitalist, with a car built by a Capitalist, looking into a camera, built by a Capitalist, talking to a news outlet, run by Capitalists, saying how Capitalism is so evil.

I would agree with him and his ilk; if he would give every dollar and personal belonging away and become a Freegan. Until then, he is just another hypocrite like the King of Swine himself.

[Just Sayin]

Tick Tock

[Gator(R)]

I was attempting sarcasm (I guess doesn't come across well in print)

I agree with what you said in your post, and almost always do with others, and 'Piggie-man' drives me nuts with his inane incessant comments whenever you post.

[Paul D. Harvill]

I wonder if the Republican leadership in the Florida House even knows who are former governors are given their ignorance on so many issues, e.g. oil drilling.

[david flagg]

Conserving Florida's watershed lands, its lakes , its aquifer, rivers and springs should be a constant nonpartisan, on gong priority. Without water, what else matters ? "Florida Forever" is about water and land.

Its a great to have four past Governors, Ds and Rs, recognize this and publically place their names outfront in support of the proper funding of the "Florida Forever" program....Its up to each citizen to remind each of his/her State Legislators of this priority for Florida's future.