No, this was to make sure the ban can not be lifted. What is wrong with letting the people decide?
FL Legislature refuses to consider drilling ban
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No, this was to make sure the ban can not be lifted. What is wrong with letting the people decide?
Forgive me if I am off a little bit -- It has been many years since I took American Government in the 10th grade.
Yes, there is currently a ban on drilling for oil in Florida's Gulf waters. However, that ban can be lifted with a simple majority vote in the House and Senate. (the flick of a switch is all it takes.) However, if the people of Florida were allowed to vote and voted against drilling, it would be a more permanent ban which couldn't be overturned by the House and Senate.
Therefore, we the ban is only temporary, and any rhetoric coming out of mouths about Florida already having a ban is shallow (has no roots).
Marti Coley's Email
Here is what her staff person sent out yesterday. I guess the only email she has is the one for Rebecca:
"Everyone continues to be cautiously optimistic as we wait to see if the cap on the oil well will remain sealed. I know the tragedy of the oil spill has been devastating for our region, and many are faced with great economic challenges as a result of this event. As we return to Tallahassee tomorrow for special session, I wanted to share a few thoughts with you.
I will support the constitutional amendment so that the citizens of Florida can decide the fate of oil drilling in our waters. However, I am extremely disappointed that the call of the special session is so narrowly focused. There are many issues facing the citizens of Northwest Florida that we should be discussing as well. Working on the claims process, reviewing property tax issues, and dealing with the environmental issues should all be part of the conversation.
It is unfortunate that with so many challenges facing our citizens a special session that will cost the taxpayers at least $50,000 a day is so narrow in scope. We have reduced every area of our budget, and we will now be spending money that has to come from somewhere. Since drilling in our waters is currently prohibited in Florida law, it would be prudent for us to broaden the scope of a special session to make sure we address all of the issues that are important to our state regarding this disaster. Again, I will support the proposed constitutional amendment, but I will continue to work with all parties concerned to make sure your businesses will continue to thrive and the residents will continue to enjoy our pristine region.
Sincerely,
Marti Coley
Rebecca Stewart
Legislative Assistant
Representative Marti Coley
3094 Indian Circle
Marianna, FL 32446
(850) 718-0047
rebecca.stewart@myfloridahouse.gov"
She said she would vote for it: she didn't.
She said she was disappointed that the call was so narrow: she could have expanded it with a proposal, she didn't.
she has promised to keep an open mind: she hasn't.
she says she supports the people in her district: she doesn't.
Here is what her staff person sent out yesterday. I guess the only email she has is the one for Rebecca:
"Everyone continues to be cautiously optimistic as we wait to see if the cap on the oil well will remain sealed. I know the tragedy of the oil spill has been devastating for our region, and many are faced with great economic challenges as a result of this event. As we return to Tallahassee tomorrow for special session, I wanted to share a few thoughts with you.
I will support the constitutional amendment so that the citizens of Florida can decide the fate of oil drilling in our waters. However, I am extremely disappointed that the call of the special session is so narrowly focused. There are many issues facing the citizens of Northwest Florida that we should be discussing as well. Working on the claims process, reviewing property tax issues, and dealing with the environmental issues should all be part of the conversation.
It is unfortunate that with so many challenges facing our citizens a special session that will cost the taxpayers at least $50,000 a day is so narrow in scope. We have reduced every area of our budget, and we will now be spending money that has to come from somewhere. Since drilling in our waters is currently prohibited in Florida law, it would be prudent for us to broaden the scope of a special session to make sure we address all of the issues that are important to our state regarding this disaster. Again, I will support the proposed constitutional amendment, but I will continue to work with all parties concerned to make sure your businesses will continue to thrive and the residents will continue to enjoy our pristine region.
Sincerely,
Marti Coley
Rebecca Stewart
Legislative Assistant
Representative Marti Coley
3094 Indian Circle
Marianna, FL 32446
(850) 718-0047
rebecca.stewart@myfloridahouse.gov"
She said she would vote for it: she didn't.
She said she was disappointed that the call was so narrow: she could have expanded it with a proposal, she didn't.
she has promised to keep an open mind: she hasn't.
she says she supports the people in her district: she doesn't.
That doesn't change anything regarding my statement. I'm not arguing that we shouldn't have the amendment to vote on. (Can't we add one ourselves with 500K signatures or something like that?) I'm just saying this vote in the state legislature was about politics, not drilling.
There is no high road in american politics anymore I'm afraid. It's unfortunate but both parties seem to spend most of their time sloshing around in the gutter.
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Representative Marti Coley (30A's Rep) sent out an email on Monday to her constituents saying, "I will support the constitutional amendment so that the citizens of Florida can decide the fate of oil drilling in our waters." Okay, great!
Tuesday in the Special Session, Marti Coley voted with the Republicans not to allow the constitutional amendment to be put on the November ballot. So, what was she for on Monday that changed by Tuesday morning?
How can you be a representative for people along the Florida coast (specifically along 30-A) and not at least cast a "token vote" for us? She knew the votes were not there for the ballot initiative -- yet, she couldn't bring herself to buck the tide!
I got the SAME DAMN EMAIL! She WILL hear from me today! Not a happy camper :angry:
Marti Coley's statement via email today:
This had to be written by the Republican party.
I replied, again, and suggested that she had deliberately mislead everyone in her previous email, and so I could not place any faith in the contents of this one.
Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent special session.
My legislative experience has taught me that it is important that constitutional amendments be given the proper time and a thorough vetting to make sure that they are as intended. In 2007, the Legislature passed a property tax relief amendment that was later thrown off the ballot in the courts largely because it was passed in haste without enough review. With the Governor now waiting until the last minute to call this special session and giving the legislature only four days to craft a constitutional amendment to ban oil exploration, vet it, and vote on it, I did not believe that the legislature was given the proper time to put a meaningful amendment before the voters.
It is unfortunate that the Governor chose to act in this manner. I support a constitutional ban on drilling in Florida waters and want to make sure that we develop a prohibition that will stand up to the inevitable court challenges it will face. It is important to me that nothing be done that might somehow have the unintended consequence of weakening the protections that we already have in place. Taking the time to get it right is just as important as the legislature passing the amendment itself.
We will be returning to the Capitol for a special session in September. This special session is expected to take up issues dealing with the BP claims process, property tax issues in affected areas, and environmental issues. We will also focus on doing what?s necessary to help create jobs and jump-start recovery in the Panhandle. I believe that these issues are critical if we are going to help our region get back on its feet after this disaster.
As part of the work group specifically tasked to identify regional long-term economic recovery opportunities, I am eager to work with individuals in our region as we look to diversify our economic structure, strengthening our communities more than ever before.
With proper notice and consideration, I believe that a ban that can stand up to court challenges can be crafted and the proper protections for our coastline and our economy can be implemented.
I remain hopeful that cap on the well will remain sealed and that this coming legislative session will be a significant step forward in starting the economic and environmental recovery in our region. The tragedy of the oil spill has been devastating, and many in our community are faced with great economic challenges as a result of this event. I want to make sure that our neighbors are made whole and that such a disaster does not happen again. Our part of Florida is a special place, and we should do everything we can to protect it.
Again, thank you for contacting me. I look forward to working with you as we move forward.
Sincerely,
Marti Coley
My legislative experience has taught me that it is important that constitutional amendments be given the proper time and a thorough vetting to make sure that they are as intended. In 2007, the Legislature passed a property tax relief amendment that was later thrown off the ballot in the courts largely because it was passed in haste without enough review. With the Governor now waiting until the last minute to call this special session and giving the legislature only four days to craft a constitutional amendment to ban oil exploration, vet it, and vote on it, I did not believe that the legislature was given the proper time to put a meaningful amendment before the voters.
It is unfortunate that the Governor chose to act in this manner. I support a constitutional ban on drilling in Florida waters and want to make sure that we develop a prohibition that will stand up to the inevitable court challenges it will face. It is important to me that nothing be done that might somehow have the unintended consequence of weakening the protections that we already have in place. Taking the time to get it right is just as important as the legislature passing the amendment itself.
We will be returning to the Capitol for a special session in September. This special session is expected to take up issues dealing with the BP claims process, property tax issues in affected areas, and environmental issues. We will also focus on doing what?s necessary to help create jobs and jump-start recovery in the Panhandle. I believe that these issues are critical if we are going to help our region get back on its feet after this disaster.
As part of the work group specifically tasked to identify regional long-term economic recovery opportunities, I am eager to work with individuals in our region as we look to diversify our economic structure, strengthening our communities more than ever before.
With proper notice and consideration, I believe that a ban that can stand up to court challenges can be crafted and the proper protections for our coastline and our economy can be implemented.
I remain hopeful that cap on the well will remain sealed and that this coming legislative session will be a significant step forward in starting the economic and environmental recovery in our region. The tragedy of the oil spill has been devastating, and many in our community are faced with great economic challenges as a result of this event. I want to make sure that our neighbors are made whole and that such a disaster does not happen again. Our part of Florida is a special place, and we should do everything we can to protect it.
Again, thank you for contacting me. I look forward to working with you as we move forward.
Sincerely,
Marti Coley
This had to be written by the Republican party.
I replied, again, and suggested that she had deliberately mislead everyone in her previous email, and so I could not place any faith in the contents of this one.
Gaetz cares about who bankrolled his $400K campaign for a $40K/year position. Which turn out to be not all that many people in Okaloosa County. I'm so disappointed in Craig Barker not deciding to run for the full term seat this fall since I think he far more had the interests of Panhandle residents at heart.
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?
; 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?