A coalition of environmental groups is suing the Florida Legislature's Republican leaders, alleging the state budget passed last week fails to fulfill the environmental funding mandate set forth in Amendment 1, the water and land conservation measure overwhelmingly approved by voters last November.

While the budget devotes more than $700 million to environmental programs, keeping pace with the $10 billion the amendment requires be spent over the next 20 years, just $88 million is devoted to purchasing the environmentally sensitive land conservationists say is key to cleaning up Florida's water supply. At the same time, $300 million is being spent on existing expenses including salaries and vehicles.

"When the people voted for land acquisition for environmental protection, they meant land acquisition for environmental protection," Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa), the Senate minority leader, said during last week's budget debate.

Top Republicans, however, dispute the claims that Amendment 1 funding must be spent entirely on land purchases. Along with Gov. Rick Scott, they maintain a portion of the money can be used to support existing state conservation lands.

Scott, meanwhile, says the state has already gone above and beyond the environmental funding commitments spelled out in the amendment.

"We've invested the amount of money that would have been required by Amendment One that passed when I first got elected, whether it's eliminating the lawsuit with the federal government over the Everglades, doing the $880 million dollars for water quality in the Everglades, investing in the Kissimmee River," Scott told reporters.

The lawsuit could have big implications for the Legislature. If a court were to rule this year's Amendment 1 funding isn't adequate, lawmakers might have to make up the difference in next year's budget.