Crist calls special session to ban offshore drilling

[kpete]

Source: St Petersburg Times

Crist calls special session to ban offshore drilling

Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday he's calling a special session of the Legislature in less than two weeks and will ask lawmakers to consider a proposed constitutional amendment to ban offshore oil drilling. His proclamation sets the session dates as July 20-23.

At a hastily-called news conference, Crist said the session would be devoted to one issue -- "a rifle shot," he called it -- to give the voters of Florida a say on drilling. But in doing so, he violated a cardinal rule of Tallahassee politics by calling for a special session without a consensus with legislative leaders.

"I feel a compelling duty to protect Florida," Crist told reporters. "And I'm going to be governor for about six more months, and I think I wouldn't be doing my duty as governor if I did not call for this special session."

Crist noted that the deadline is Aug. 4 for a proposed amendment to make it to the Nov. 2 ballot. He said the Senate sponsor of the proposed drilling ban will be Sen. J. Alex Villalobos, R-Miami, but no House sponsor has been selected. His announcement sets up a clash with the House, where Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, has publicly accused Crist of grandstanding on drilling.

Read more: http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2010/07/crist-calls-special-session-of-legislature.html

[Deep13]

1. It's pretty bad when Crist becomes the voice of reason. nt

[HockeyMom]

3. Just shows how over cliff the Republicans

in Florida really area.

[SunnySong]

12. He's been the voice of reason for a while... if he doesn't become Senator

he would make an excellent choice at the Dept of Education.

He is one politician who sees teachers as the solution not the enemy.

[HockeyMom]

2. Get a House Rep from Pensacola

Doubt it will be too difficult to find one.

[DrDan]

4. now is the time to do it . . . can't imagine anyone coming out against it

[HCE SuiGeneris]

5. !

I wish I shared your optimism about the expected response. I would imagine a very vociferous reaction form the GOPigs.

[Lochloosa]

7. LOL

You don't know Florida very well.

[DrDan]

8. I guess not . . . only lived here for the past 27 years . . ..

[Lochloosa]

13. Here is a headline for you from my local paper

Crist’s plan for offshore drilling ban met mostly with opposition
Some say he is more concerned with Senate bid than oil spill.


http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2010-07-09/story/crist%E2%80%99s-plan-offshore-drilling-ban-met-mostly-opposition

[Uncle Joe]

14. I wonder how the headlines from he Gulf Coast side of Florida read? n/t

[DrDan]

16. well - good for Crist anyway - he he gets it to a vote - then we shall see

[DirkGently]

6. Should be interesting.

[Downwinder]

9. It makes an issue of drilling, which needs to be done. n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. What a difference a year makes.

Especially an election year.

[tnlefty]

11. Help! I'm confused...I thought that FL along with some

other states had banned offshore drilling, and all this time I was thinking that FL is getting hit hard by the decisions of politicians in LA.

Or are repuke cretins in the FL state house and senate trying to overturn the ban on offshore drilling in FL? Confused I am, enlightened I would like to become.

[Uncle Joe]

15. Apparently they have been trying to overturn it.

“You’re going to waste that money just to grandstand, just to keep your name in lights,” said Rep. Jennifer Carroll, R-Fleming Island.

Crist brushed that criticism off, noting that many of those who pointed to the existing ban tried to repeal it just before the Deepwater Horizon blew.

“Politics has nothing to do with this,” Crist said, sounding exasperated with the notion. “… But I also know that just a year ago they tried to change that statute and drill holes three miles off the coast of Florida.”

http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2010-07-09/story/crist%E2%80%99s-plan-offshore-drilling-ban-met-mostly-opposition

[tnlefty]

17. I understand that and I'm in no way trying to criticize

what Crist is trying to do against the cretins in his state. But FL is being harmed not by the actions of the state of FL, but by actions of another state.

Hell, I hope that he gets this done, but I'm not so sure it will protect the state of FL. (I need a tongue in cheek emoticon). Thanks for your response, BTW. :hi:

[HooptieWagon]

18. Yes, offshore drilling is already banned by law in State waters.

However, there has been a big push in the legislature to change the law and allow it. This push comes from extensive lobbying on behalf of a "secret" organization with deep pockets. There is no gas or oil in Florida waters (up to 5 miles offshore), but the federal ban on drilling in the federal waters of the Eastern Gulf (up to 200 miles offshore) is partially based on recognizing Florida law (there are also US military concerns). If the Florida legislature repeals the ban, that gives the federal government the green light to do the same. What Crist and the drilling opponents are attempting to do is to place the Florida ban into the State Constitution, thus making it much more difficult for the pro-drilling crowd to overturn.