A brewing controversy over Chinese drywall is hitting hard for Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp. The Fort Myers Republican is moving his family out of their home while the problem is investigated.

A number of homes in Southwest Florida have been built with the suspect drywall, which is emitting rotten egg smells, corroding wiring and, some fear, could cause respiratory problems. Builders turned to the Chinese drywall during the recent building boom.

As the Buzz reported in December, records show Kottkamp's home was built by Aubuchon Homes, run by state Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral. But the problem is not Aubuchon's alone; giants like Lennar are also struggling.

"The Florida Department of Health has collected 12 samples from
throughout Florida and they are waiting for test results before moving
forward," said Sterling Ivey, a spokesman for the governor's office,
who confirmed Kottkamp is relocating his family.

Kottkamp was asked about Chinese drywall during a live video interview this afternoon with The News-Press of Fort Myers. He did not mention his own situation but said: "The first thing, obviously, is to ensure that people's health is not at risk. ... It's going to take a while to sort all this out and determine what the full impact is and, frankly, who's going to pay for it."

The Wall Street Journal spoke with Aubuchon last month. "The building industry is in a situation where it doesn't need one more issue of negativity out there."