After losing that case and others, farm and mining companies devised an end-run around the courts. They went to Tallahassee, where their money always talks loudly. Today the Dockery-Putnam land grab is rolling through committees of both the House and the Senate. It is opposed by 19 conservation and environmental groups, as well as four of seven members of the Cabinet, sitting as trustees for Florida's public lands. Such a law would impact every Floridian who loves the outdoors, because there would be a lot less outdoors to love.
Supporters insist that the companies have no intention of fencing off lakes, rivers and shorelines.
What a joke. Lots of people stand to make millions off the Dockery-Putnam giveaway. That such an awful bill attracted 63 co-sponsors in the House and 10 in the Senate is all you need to know about what's happening in the capitol this spring. The short-timers are open for business. It's not really a legislature so much as a flea market.