Hollywood, FL – Tim Canova, the Nova Southeastern University law professor and Democratic primary challenger to Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Florida's 23rd U.S. Congressional District, issued a strong rebuke today against a proposed rule approved by Florida’s Environmental Regulatory Commission. The rule would raise the legal limits on the permissible levels of more than two dozen known carcinogenic chemicals in Florida’s drinking water. Many of the chemicals, whose legal limits will be amended under the proposed rule, are used extensively by oil and gas companies in hydraulic fracturing – more commonly known as fracking – operations.

Following the news of the Environmental Regulatory Commission’s vote, Tim Canova released the following statement:

“All Florida residents should be outraged. Governor Rick Scott and his hand-selected appointees have shown a wanton disregard for the best interests of our people, our environment, and our economy.  This will endanger the public health, and all to placate corporate interests and open the door to fracking in Florida.  I firmly believe there should be no place for fracking in Florida.  The threats from fracking to the quality of our drinking water, the health of citizens, and our tourist and recreation economy are all too real.  I now urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reject this proposed rule.”
Canova further stated, “I was proud to stand very early in my campaign with people from all over South Florida -- environmental groups, labor, community activists, the League of Cities, the Association of Counties and so many others -- to oppose several dangerous state legislative proposals that would have opened the door wide for big oil and gas companies to frack in our state by preempting anti-fracking resolutions that have been adopted by cities and counties throughout Florida.”

Canova’s opponent, six-term incumbent Wasserman Schultz, was noticeably silent after news of the Commission’s vote. While Wasserman Schultz has voiced support for anti-fracking positions in the past, during her leadership of the Democratic National Committee, delegates on the platform committee – including apparently lobbyists who Wasserman Schultz appointed as so- called super delegates -- voted down proposals to the party’s official platform that would have called for a national moratorium on fracking and new fossil fuel drilling leases within federally managed lands and waters.  When asked about Wasserman Schultz’s silence, Canova said he was not surprised.  “Wasserman Schultz has been silent on a lot of tough issues, and that’s probably because she simply cannot defend her record. She is not a true progressive, she has become beholden to big corporate interests, and the people of South Florida deserve a representative who will look out for their interests and not those of corporations and billionaire donors.”

Wasserman Schultz has faced a litany of criticism in recent days after Wikileaks released over 19,000 emails from the DNC that showed clearly how she and other senior members of her DNC staff actively worked to undermine the presidential campaign of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, while also monitoring Canova’s campaign in apparent violation of federal law.  The DNC is required by its own bylaws to remain impartial in the Democratic presidential nomination contest.  Wasserman Schultz was forced to resign from the DNC.  Canova and Wasserman Schultz will face off in the Democratic congressional primary on August 30.