Crist calls special session to ban oil drilling

[thelakelander]

Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday he would convene special session of the Florida Legislature to permanently ban oil drilling in state waters, which Republican leaders quickly decried as a political gambit by Crist to improve his chances in the U.S. Senate campaign.

The session, which would come as oil from the BP spill still threatens Florida’s Panhandle coastline, will happen within the next few weeks â€" possibly the week of May 24-28, Crist told reporters at the Capitol. The issues: a constitutional amendment banning oil drilling and perhaps legislation to promote clean and renewable energy sources in Florida, such as wind and solar.

If approved, the amendment would appear on the Nov. 2 ballot and ask voters whether they want to permanently ban drilling in state waters 3 to 10 miles off shore. At the ballot box, 60 percent voter approval is needed for it to become law.

“I’d like to do it sooner rather than later,” Crist, who supported drilling in state waters just last year, said of the special session. “People are concerned about it. I sense it.”

A Republican-turned-independent, Crist is putting Republican legislative leaders in a tough spot. Even as they seethe at the governor and his motives, voting against the drilling ban would be politically risky with oil polluting the Gulf of Mexico. Indeed, Crist said “nobody reasonable” would vote against the ban and predicted it would pass easily.

House Republican Leader Adam Hasner, R-Boca Raton, said “a call for a special session is purely political.” He noted that state law already bans drilling in state waters and “no one is trying to change that.”

“That is transparent political posturing by Charlie Crist,” he said. “Right now, the issue is protecting our environment and protecting our economy. A constitutional amendment is about Charlie Crist protecting his political future.”

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/dcblog/2010/05/crist_calls_special_session_to.html

[buckethead]

The panderer.

[Sportmotor]

The racist.

[Doctor_K]

If state law does indeed already ban drilling in state waters, this is indeed purely political.  Panderer is right.

[mtraininjax]

He'll do anything and say anything for a vote.

[Doctor_K]

He's a politician.  Of course he would.

[JeffreyS]

He is just drilling the Rube with this one. Good for him.

[wiseman]

Christ. He's got your back if it's in his best interest, and he doesn't care if you know. Takes balls.

[buckethead]

Crist surveys the gulf coast for evidence of oil spillage.





http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/06/obama-speech-react.html

[Jaxson]

The governor is ready to plug the hole!

[CS Foltz]

I agree with the general context..............Idiot...................panderer..................anything for a vote! Won't get mine, the bozo!

[tufsu1]

Crist surveys the gulf coast for evidence of oil spillage.





http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/06/obama-speech-react.html

that's actually pretty weak photoshop work...plus, does anyone think our Gov. gets excited over women?

[CS Foltz]

Speaking for myself only............NO!

[Timkin]

Well, why not ?

[heights unknown]

The governor is ready to plug the hole!

And contain any leakage.

"HU"