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Florida Official Avoids Saying 'Climate Change' in Hearing

Gov. Rick Scott has denied reports that he unofficially banned the terms “climate change” and “global warming” from state reports and in official documents, but Florida Division of Emergency Management director Bryan Koon isn’t taking any chances.

Gov. Rick Scott has denied reports that he unofficially banned the terms “climate change” and “global warming” from state reports and in official documents, but Florida Division of Emergency Management director Bryan Koon isn’t taking any chances.

 

Speaking before a Senate panel Thursday, Koon was asked about federal requirements for states to have a plan to combat climate change to receive grant money. He avoided using the term.

 

Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, raised the question, then cheekily suggested using the phrase “atmospheric reemployment” instead to meet with Scott’s alleged wishes and still pull down grant money.

 

Koon noted that Florida’s deadline to resubmit a hazard mitigation plan to receive grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency isn’t due until 2018. But he refrained from saying the words “climate change.”

 

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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