"The ballot language and actually the text of the amendment specifically says to acquire lands in the Everglades agricultural area, which is where the U.S. Sugar land in question is," said Abberger. "Instead, they’re funding a lot of existing programs, existing agency operations.

Gov. Rick Scott and other key Republican lawmakers declined repeated requests for interviews, but “America Tonight” tracked down House Speaker Steve Crisafulli to ask about plans for the Amendment 1 money.

"I think we need to be focused right now on the land management side of things," he told us. That means no sugar land deal.

“America Tonight” asked him if using the funds to pay for state agencies’ operating and regulatory expenses was an appropriate use of Amendment 1 money. "I think it goes toward the overall objectives of those agencies, yeah," he said.

Should the state's option to buy the land expire, the price would almost surely go up. The sugar industry usually gets what it wants from Florida lawmakers, thanks to generous campaign contributions, critics charge. U.S. Sugar and its executives have already made more than $500,000 in campaign contributions to state candidates for their 2016 races, The Tampa Bay Times reported.

If the deal doesn't go through, Osceola fears it will be another step toward the death of the Everglades.

"It would be sadness for the Everglades because that’s another nail in her coffin," she said. "You hear the birds in the background. You hear the frogs. You even hear the trees over there — they’re rustling. They’re talking. They’re whispering. They all deserve a right to exist. They’re in distress, and those of us that have the ability to do something about it need to wake up and start doing something about it."