A new database launched by Vote Water reveals the extent of campaign donations Florida politicians receive from polluting industries, such as Big Sugar and utilities, raising concerns about the influence of money in politics.
Craig Pittman reports for Florida Phoenix.
In short:
- Vote Water’s “Dirty Money Project” tracks political donations from polluters, showing millions of dollars flowing to Florida politicians over six years.
- Industries like Big Sugar, phosphate miners and utilities dominate campaign contributions, influencing legislation on environmental protections.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis received $5.7 million from polluters, with much of the money coming through political action committees (PACs).
Key quote:
"Dirty money to dirty politicians creates dirty water. And we’ve got the receipts,."
— Gil Smart, executive director of Vote Water.
Why this matters:
Political donations from industries linked to environmental damage shape policy decisions, hindering efforts to address issues like water pollution. This system makes it difficult for citizens and environmental advocates to hold polluters accountable.
Related: US oil and gas sector pours big money into GOP politics
