Obama seeks $232M for Everglades restoration

President Barack Obama sought to allocate $231.75 million for the restoration of the Everglades in Palm Beach County in his budget proposal released Monday, the Associated Press reported.

The budget for the restoration project is roughly equivalent — when taking a one-time $30 million payment for land acquisition into account — to the budget for the restoration in 2011, despite Congress Republicans seeking significant federal budget cuts.

“They’re just making it even more clear that when they’re asked to prioritize that this is one of their big priorities,” said Julie Hill-Gabriel, director of Everglades policy for Audobon Florida.

Supporters of the resetoration note the environmental damage that has already beset the site, and tout the construction jobs the restoration effort has brought to Palm Beach County. [AP via Miami Herald]