News Articles
Not all lawmakers focused on drilling ban
Pensacola News Journal, July 17, 2010
TALLAHASSEE — The agenda for the upcoming special legislative session is simple but the politics of it are complex.
Gov. Charlie Crist has called a special session to discuss putting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot forbidding offshore oil drilling in Florida waters.
Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, said they will give the four-day session — scheduled for Tuesday through Friday — short attention and focus instead on a September special session to consider economic relief for areas hit by oil.
"Rushing to amend the constitution at the last possible moment because of an accident hundreds of miles from our jurisdiction does not typify deliberation and responsible legislation," Cretul wrote.
Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican, has led a Senate group considering responses to the economic situation, which is hitting the Panhandle at the peak of summer tourism season.
"The governor has been very dismissive of the economic situation, said it's not time-sensitive," Gaetz said. "I guess the only thing time-sensitive to him is getting something on the ballot that will help him win the U.S. Senate seat."
State Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, released a statement saying he was pleased with the news of a special session devoted to economic relief.
"I applaud this decision and intend to take the concerns of our fishermen, charter boat captains and all families affected by this tragedy to Tallahassee to ensure that Northwest Florida is heard and taken care of," Evers' statement said. "Tours, talk and inaction is not something we can afford, and this special session, solely focused on recovery, and the news on the cap, is welcome and overdue."
Cretul told members "you can expect your stay to be very short next week." He and Atwater are unlikely to brook other issues during a special session with a roughly $40,000-a-day meter running.
Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and Gaetz, who heads a special Senate committee on the economy, said there is no need to amend the state's constitution.
They said drilling is already banned by statute and Haridopolos said both he and Gaetz, in line to succeed him as Senate president, won't change that in the next four years.
"There's no risk that there'll be drilling in the Gulf anytime soon," Haridopolos said. "We want to focus on solutions and a solution is not banning something that's already been banned."
A legislative resolution must pass by Aug. 4 to be printed in time for absentee ballots.
It requires three-fifths majorities — 24 votes in the Senate and 72 in the House — and Haridopolos said the vote looks close.
Copyright © 2010.