Especially in this economy, everything is labeled a "tax" if you don't want it. Add this one to the list: The Environmental Protection Agency's plans to uphold clean water laws and limit how much nutrient pollution is allowed in Florida's waterways.
A group of big business and anti-tax interests, joined by former state DEP secretaries Virginia Wetherell and Colleen Castille, warned the yet-unannounced regulations would amount to a "federal water tax" that would hurt the economy. They are calling on the state's congressional delegation to stop the EPA from imposing restrictions — which they argue (with questionable math) – would cost Florida utilities $50 billion with consumer footing the bill.
For more, read this piece when the EPA intervened to end a lawsuit filed by environmental groups in 2008. In the meantime, marvel at this great Web site name the group launched: www.donttaxflorida.com. Surprisingly, it wasn't taken until PR guru Ron Sachs bought it Nov. 10.
Related posts: