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The Oil fight may rest on the Cabinet -- Scott Maddox for Commissioner of Agriculture

srbexile avatar
Beach Comber
379 views
From the latest campaign mailing:

When it comes to offshore oil drilling proposals?don?t let them fool you.

When they said the new rigs would be safe, we weren?t fooled?
?we showed how a brand new rig burned out of control, spilling oil for thousands of miles off the coast of Australia, just last summer.

When they said the new rigs wouldn?t be visible from shore?
?we shined a light on the fact that underwater rigs were not possible in the Gulf of Mexico.

When they said the drilling off Florida?s coast would lower gas prices?
?we made sure they saw the new Collins Center Study, which debunked that claim.

Now they are saying they will keep their dangerous rigs out of sight?
?and we are calling their bluff!

Experts disagree on the current bill language and through all the smoke and behind all the mirrors one thing is clear...
?this is a group that cannot be trusted to tell the truth.

Why does this matter to you?

The two bills working their way through the legislature are being sponsored by two of the most powerful members of the Florida legislature, the incoming Senate President and the incoming House Speaker.

Why does this matter to me as a candidate for the cabinet position of Commissioner for Agriculture and Consumer Services?

For starters, I care about the future of our state. I care about the families who will be hurt by those who want to destroy our precious coastline. I care about the long-term economic viability of Florida, about good jobs, about alternative energy, and about our environment.

And because the leases being proposed will be voted on for approval ? or denial ? by the Florida Cabinet.

Help us get there?help us take back this vital cabinet post and help elect someone who is not afraid to stand up to the big oil special interests.

Scott

Scott Maddox for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture & Consumer Services

Replies

5
Bob avatar
SoWal Insider
#2
i cannot believe this is even happening
Beach Fanatic
#3
For whatever it may be worth, I sent out an e-blast to a number of elected officials yesterday, explaining why I oppose offshore drilling. Following are copy-pasted form-letter responses I've received so far:

Thank you for your recent email regarding the subject of energy exploration in Florida?s state waters. I appreciate the opportunity to learn your thoughts and concerns on this important issue.

Please know that the Florida House of Representatives has been studying this issue over several months through a long and thorough process. Our Select Policy Council on Strategic & Economic Planning has taken testimony from specialists and interested parties representing all sides of this issue, including more than a dozen different environmental organizations. An ongoing series of meetings have been held for input from experts in areas such as geology, seismic studies, environmental and safety regulations for drilling and production technologies, environmental permitting, oil spill prevention methods, beach renourishment, and the impacts of energy exploration on marine life. Additionally, our members are also paying close attention to any potential impacts on military missions.

The Florida House of Representatives is intent on reducing Florida's dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels while protecting Florida's environment and creating new technology jobs to recharge our state's economy. This is an issue that requires a careful balancing of all these critical issues. Please be assured that I will keep your concerns in mind as we continue to address our ongoing energy challenges.

Again, thank you for writing to me. If I may be of assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Larry Cretul
Speaker
--------------------------------------------
Dear Ms. Horn,

Thank you for expressing your concerns about oil drilling in Florida's Gulf of Mexico. I really appreciate the input. Last year the Florida House passed legislation that would authorize the governor and cabinet to accept a $5 million non-refundable application fee for a company to explore the oil drilling possibilities; it did not authorize drilling. As you expressed, the asset of the Gulf is one that cannot be compromised. Because energy independence is extremely important, I am diligently studying all facets of the issue. However, I cannot stress enough my commitment to protecting the military mission, the tourism industry, and the environment in the panhandle.

I have actively attempted to educate myself on this issue. I invited Representative Dean Cannon, last year?s House sponsor, to the Panhandle to see how important the beaches are to our economy and to learn how important the military presence is to the entire region. We both learned a great deal. This is an emotional issue in District 7 because many of the inland counties support drilling. I want to assure you, however, that I have listened to the concerns of the people that would be most affected by the issues ? those living on the coast- and will not support legislation that would harm our tourism base or our military presence.

Representing a district with nine counties requires that I listen to all constituents so no issue is a simple one. Please know that I am committed to be a strong voice for all of District 7.

Sincerely,

Marti Coley
----------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for contacting Governor Charlie Crist's Office. The Governorappreciates your concerns about offshore oil drilling and asked that Irespond on his behalf. Governor Crist wants to know how people feel about the many criticalissues we face. You have the opportunity to influence legislation onthis issue by contacting your local legislative delegation. You maywish to write to your senator or representative. The Division ofLegislative Information Services is a helpful resource for informationon legislation. That office can be contacted in writing at 111 WestMadison Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1400 or by calling toll-free(800) 342-1827. Those with internet access can find contact informationfor their legislators and track bills as they proceed through thelegislative process at www.leg.state.fl.us. The Executive Office of the Governor follows all bills as they movethrough the legislative process. Generally, Governor Crist does nottake a position on a specific bill until it has been adopted by theLegislature and presented for his action, as bills can be amendedsubstantially during the legislative process. Please be assured, theconcerns and opinions of Floridians like yourself are presented to theGovernor and weigh into his decision on whether or not to sign a bill.Thank you again for taking the time to write to Governor Crist. Yourthoughts are very important to him. For information about theGovernor's initiatives and to subscribe to his weekly "Notes from theCapitol" newsletter, please visit www.flgov.com and click on "Subscribeto Notes from the Capitol." Sincerely,Warren DavisOffice of Citizen Services Services
Beach Fanatic
#4
it looks as though they have the "form letter" routine down pretty good...I received the same letters.
Beach Fanatic
#5
Yeah. If they are so concerned about what the people think and want etc., why do they let such bills get this far? Why not kill it before it ever makes the news?

Oops, my naive side (that part of me that believed what they taught us in school about government in USA) is showing.
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#6
I got the same letters. Albeit a little disparaging keep in mind that all of these people get thousands of emails a day and the higher up the chain you go, the more emails they get. At minimum they've got one person who does nothing but answer emails all day and there are even programs that will help by finding key words and sending out form letters. On the bright side it also means a check in the NO box when they give a report summarizing issues to these tools, er, people.

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