Big Sugar suffers from FOMO, (Fear Of Missing Out,) so they cover all bases and give to politicians in both parties. More to one usually, however. Some candidates refuse their donations, as we see below.
Thanks to VoteWater for this article, who keeps close tabs on the political world in Florida. Objectively, we could venture that Rick -I like my fish dead- Scott* was the worst environmental governor we can remember.
Read the original article here on VoteWater.
*coined by Craig Pittman
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Big Sugar gives big bucks to Rick Scott
“Red Tide Rick” Scott was no friend to the clean-water cause as Florida’s governor. Then he moved on to the U.S. Senate by barely beating incumbent Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson in 2018.
Now he’s in a tight race for re-election; a new survey from Florida Atlantic University and Mainstreet Research pegged his lead over Democratic challenger and former Florida Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell at a mere 2 points, 45% to 43%. Back in April, Scott was up by 17 points — and clearly, he’s going to need all the help he can get.
He’s getting plenty from Big Sugar.
A review of federal campaign finance data shows the sugar industry — spearheaded by Clewiston-based U.S. Sugar – has showered Scott with campaign cash in his attempt to retain his seat. The biggest donations: A pair of $250,000 gifts from U.S. Sugar in 2023 to the “Project Rescue America” super PAC that supports Scott.
The United States Sugar Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan PAC donated another $11,600 to the “Team Rick Scott” political action committee earlier this year. Team Rick Scott has gotten another $10,000 from sugar interests since December.
In addition, the U.S. Sugar Employee Stock Ownership PAC donated $10,000 to the “Rick Scott for Florida” campaign so far in 2024; the campaign has gotten at least $18,000 from other sugar interests.
Meanwhile, the amount of money Mucarsel-Powell’s “Debbie for Florida” campaign has gotten from Big Sugar?
Zero.
So it should be crystal clear who Sugar wants in that Senate seat — and the industry, of course, will expect a return on its investment.
While Scott may see the industry’s support as a boon, we plan to hang it around his neck like an anchor. Scott is clearly Big Sugar’s lackey — and it’s time for this seat to go sugar-free.
