FL Legislature refuses to consider drilling ban

But while tar balls are staining Northwest Florida beaches, none of the six legislative working groups Cretul assigned to the task is led by a Panhandle legislator.

Three of the lead lawmakers on the groups are from Southwest Florida, as is the chief coordinator they will answer to, Rep. Gary Aubuchon, a Republican from oil-free Cape Coral.

Three of the leads, including Aubuchon, serve on a committee that spent months laying the groundwork to lift Florida's 20-year offshore drilling ban.

Tallahassee Democrat - www.floridacapitalnews.com - Tallahassee, FL.[/B]

...and with this we can all feel very secure that we'll never have near-shore drilling off our coast.

If Marti Coley had thought things through, she would have said earlier that she supports the ban, but wanted to propose a special session in August, not wait till September, so as to allot more time for the appropriate legal language to be added to the Constitution that is rock solid. Frankly, with most of the legislature being lawyers, you would think that 4 days would be sufficient with enough heads working on it, but obviously with Marti not having any legal experience, how would she know? ; but, instead, no, they are going to wait till September and have a bunch of newbies working on special relief committees. What a joke. :roll::roll:

Florida is in a crisis now and the special legislature at least has a job. The least they could do is work through the summer and take a lousy week if need be, but they should all be in Tallahassee the rest of the summer working on Florida's coastal communities needs and let BP foot the bill. I'm betting they are hoping that the people may be less furious and protective come September as the season dies down and some claims are paid.

How could anyone not believe the vote to adjourn wasn't politically motivated?

What are you talking about? It can be put up at the next special session or a regular session of the legislature. As stated previously, by me and others, this was a ploy by Crist to seek political favor and nothing more. Even if its true the ban can be lifted by a simple majority in both branches of the legislature, it will be in effect until they are in session!