November 5, 2010

“Yesterday, I read with interest the President’s remarks indicating he may still try to push some environmental issues through executive fiat and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I ask the President and the EPA to reconsider imposition of Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC), which will dictate our state’s water quality standards. Slated to take effect in a few days, these NNC will only be imposed on Florida and are not supported by scientific facts.

If the President has truly heard the people, he will realize that Floridians like all Americans, are tired of over-regulation by government and NNC is the epitome of this concern. NNC will raise the water costs of Floridians by an average of more than $600 per year. In addition, municipal and county governments, along with the business community, will be adversely impacted by this onerous and punitive set of rules estimated to increase overall water costs in Florida by tens of billions of dollars.

AIF appreciates recent efforts by U.S. Sen. George LeMieux to pass a budget amendment that would have prevented federal dollars from being expended by the EPA to implement this terribly expensive and unjustified concept. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has also been helpful, but until the EPA stops this unwarranted attack on Florida’s economy, AIF will leave no stone unturned in our push to stop NNC.

This week’s election is proof positive that Floridians have soundly rejected the policies and mandates issued from the ivory tower of Capitol Hill. If the President expects to win Florida in 2012 and help elect other Democrats, NNC must be revisited immediately. Democrats who refuse to listen to their constituency by supporting NNC and other issues that hurt Florida employers – small and big – will pay the price again in 2012.”