[StarfishKey]

This is an article that came out in the local paper:
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In CNN debate with Crist, Scott says the state 'spent $350 million to deal with sea-level rise down in the Keys.' That isn't true

By KEVIN WADLOW
kwadlow@keynoter.comOctober 24, 2014 Updated 20 hours ago




Charlie Crist (left) and Gov. Rick Scott shake hands before their Tuesday debate. Things went downhill from there with personal attacks. The two men clearly don't like each other.
Image from MIAMI HERALD



During Tuesday's final debate in the race to be Florida governor, Republican Gov. Rick Scott declared his administration "spent $350 million to deal with sea-level rise down in the Keys."

That came as news to most in the Florida Keys.

"I have no idea what he's talking about. It's the first I've heard of it," said Monroe County Commissioner Heather Carruthers, a local representative to the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact comprising Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Chris Bergh manages The Nature Conservancy in the Keys and is widely considered a leading authority on the effects of rising seas on South Florida.

"If there is a program specific to sea-level rise in the Keys, I am not aware of it," he said.

Since his declaration Tuesday, Scott's amended his sea-level expenditure statement to include "in the Miami area," according to a transcript by CNN, which televised the hour-long debate in Jacksonville.

Jackie Shutz, a spokeswoman for the Scott re-election campaign, said in a Thursday e-mail that the $350 million "is money allocated by [the Florida Division of Emergency Management] for flood mitigation over the past three years."

Several state agencies are tied to the $350 million total, which covers flood mitigation for all of Florida's 35 coastal counties over the past few years, said Aaron Gallaher, communications director for Emergency Management.

A more detailed explanation of the reference was being prepared at press time Friday, Gallaher said.

But the division's share of money "obligated" for Monroe County is $6.7 million, he said.

At the debate, Crist's opponent, Democratic former Gov. Charlie Crist, challenged Scott, "Why are you so reluctant to believe the overwhelming majority of scientists who say that man contributes to climate change?"

Scott responded that he is focused on "the solutions.... I'm going to tell you what we've done."

He then brought up the $350 million, and went on to say, "We spent hundreds of millions dollars to deal with coral reefs."

Scott was referring to $100 million sent to the Keys to help fund countywide sewer projects required by the state. The improved wastewater treatment is expected to protect Keys nearshore waters from damaging effects of nutrients that previously leaked from septic tanks.

The $100 million is half the $200 million the Florida Legislature authorized in 2008 as part of Everglades and Florida Bay restoration.

Crist did not follow up on the $350 million reference but expressed his concern over global warming and his support for "renewable energy."

Scott charged that when Crist served one term as governor, "He didn't put money into dealing with sea-level rise. He didn't lift a finger to settle the lawsuit over the Everglades. He didn't put a dime in to coral reefs."

Studies have shown the Florida Keys are among the most at-risk areas in the U.S. to be at risk of rising seas in the coming decades.

Carruthers said a "very well-attended" climate-change conference held on Miami Beach in early October featured lengthy sessions on Florida's potential sea-level rise.

"The one glaring omission was nobody from the governor's office was there," she said.

[froglipz]

You know he is lying when his mouth is moving!

[straight shooter]

Aren't they all liars. They all hate each other but at the same time they all help each other. It is one big messed up family.

[LifeIsGood01]

Originally Posted by straight shooter

Aren't they all liars. They all hate each other but at the same time they all help each other. It is one big messed up family.

They all lie, but some just twist the truth, Rick Scott flat out lies.

[Restrain]

Oh, please. We have to put up with political ads on TV ad nausium. Whether you think Scott or Crist is evil incarnate, can't we just give it a rest here?

[StarfishKey]

Originally Posted by Restrain

Oh, please. We have to put up with political ads on TV ad nausium. Whether you think Scott or Crist is evil incarnate, can't we just give it a rest here?

Why, so there can be more room for threads asking how many people like Florida, or more "I want to move to FL but I have no job and no plan" and the onslaught of unpleasant responses?

This is simply an article written by a local Keys paper, discussing a very pertinent issue to so many of us in Florida, but especially in the Keys - sea level rise and what if anything we plan to do about it. It discusses both governors' relative inaction, and explains what was a blatant lie on the part of Scott in the recent debate, which very possibly many people here saw and thought "That sounds good!" and didn't know wasn't true. This issue is important to people in the Keys, and unfortunately there is no adequate way to address it without politicians and government involvement.

Let's be real, the tendency of Floridians toward Escapism and wanting to look the other way on stressful topics is exactly why we have the two choices we do. And, of the numerous times I have started positive threads here and brought them back up again and again, very very few of the regular posters on the Florida forum choose to comment on them, and certainly no one keeps them going. They are fun and interesting threads. But the people who post here the most, clearly have disdain for anything fun. All people want to do is argue and snipe at others, make violent posts, and be rude and angry about every possible topic. The rule seems to be - if there is nothing negative to say, why post?

I could be busy responding to people on happy threads about snorkeling and shell-covered mailboxes, which would make me very happy, but none of those threads have anyone to respond to. So in the meantime, I am posting information about the very important upcoming election, and how it relates to my local community - which was used by one candidate, erroneously, to gain points with people in the rest of the state. Non-biased clarification therefore is important - and here you have a newspaper interviewing multiple local officials who say unequivocally that Scott's claim to have helped the Keys in such a major way is blatantly false. Knowledge may not always be fun, but knowledge is definitely power.

[Fl1150]

He is a liar and thief

[old_cold]

Originally Posted by Fl1150

He is a liar and thief

OK, but is he the wiser choice for governor?
When it comes to politicians, your statement is no more helpful than to declare that he is taller.

[Last1Out]

Oh, please. Had any democrat said the same thing he would immediately be excused as having "mis-spoke".

[cfbs2691]

Originally Posted by old_cold

OK, but is he the wiser choice for governor?
When it comes to politicians, your statement is no more helpful than to declare that he is taller.

We're screwed anyway you look at it.

Vote for who's taller, shorter, looks like your Uncle Bob or your Aunt Edna.. makes no difference.. they're the same on either party... Representing Special Interest Groups and themselves. The end.