So I lie. You should be used to it by now.
Rick Scott has eviscerated Florida's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) all the while lying and misrepresenting his actions as being for the benefit of Florida's environment.
The non-profit Tampa Bay Times has exposed how, with stunning, blatant disconnect Rick Scott bragged before an audience at the DEP about his supposed accomplishments:
One accomplishment Scott singled out: making it easier than ever to obtain a permit for filling in wetlands, pumping water out of the aquifer or pouring pollutants into the water and air.
"Recently Florida has successfully reduced its environmental permitting time down to just two days, and that's great!" Scott said. "We take care of our environment, but when we know we're going to give a permit, give it to them quickly."
The Tampa Bay Times thorough research lists the actual environmental results of Scott's tenure as Florida governor:
• Slashed funding for the DEP and the five water districts;
• Laid off veteran DEP and water district employees, including Everglades scientists;
• Put the DEP in the hands of people connected to the industries the agency regulates;
• Emphasized helping industries avoid fines instead of prosecuting polluters.
Under Scott, the driving force in the DEP became "a hatred of regulation in general and in particular environmental regulations," one laid-off DEP veteran, Mark Bardolph, said.
Of course, now, fighting a tough reelection campaign Rick Scott is trying to cover his tracks but as Joe Mulé, president of Preserve Our Paradise has said:"It's like slapping some lipstick on a pig".
The Tampa Bay Times has done stellar investigative research in it's expose piece. I encourage you to read the entire piece and check out their accompanied video (which unfortunately I'm unable to embed here).
I'm working to GOTV for Charlie Crist (and our other Florida dems) here in Florida. As former Florida governor, Crist had a strong environmental record which I wrote about here. You can help us get rid of Scott for good by supporting Charlie Crist here.