Florida Governor Lawton Chiles signed into law a bill that seeks to restore the Florida Everglades. Known as the Everglades Forever Act, the bill will set up a fund to build huge marshes designed to filter out polluted run-off seeping into the Everglades. Environmental groups reacted with some skepticism. Webb was referring to the series of court battles between the federal government and the sugar industry over Everglades policy for the past several years.
Environmental groups have a bigger target on their agenda.
They hope to hold a statewide referendum which will ask Florida citizens to approve a one penny a pound tax on sugar producers. The funds will go for environmental restoration of the Everglades. Sugar companies have argued the tax will put them out of business. The Clinton administration said it was pleased with the law but acknowledged it is just the beginning. I think it is a tremendous step forward.