Texas oil execs in Florida to push 3 mile offshore drilling. Ain't it amazing?

[madfloridian]

They wait until the session is ending, and they spring this on the legislature. Environmental and other groups are outraged. Won't do them much good though I don't think.

Just amazing that Texas is leading the way here on this issue. They were here to help set up educational testing when Jeb was governor. They seem to be close with the Jeb cronies in the legislature.

Unfortunate I read today that Charlie Crist is "intrigued" by the plan.

Gov. Charlie Crist said he was still reviewing the proposal but was "intrigued'' by the potential to extract oil "in a way that is safe, in a way that is clean and in a way that generates a lot of revenue for the state of Florida."

More about the Texas oil executives who are here to push it.

Lawmakers Suddenly Push Florida Oil Drilling

Less than two weeks before the end of this year's legislative session, and just a day before Earth Day, the proposal was released with little advance notice and backed by a well-organized public relations and lobbying onslaught.

Florida business groups, with two representatives of Texas oil companies, came armed for the debate Tuesday with a computer presentation, a four-color brochure promoting the safe opportunity to gain billions for the state, and a poll claiming Floridians support offshore drilling.

"What is shocking is that this scheme obviously has been in the works for some time, and they are springing it in the last two weeks of the legislative session," said Earthjustice lawyer David Guest. "This kind of thing only happens when the legislative process has been corrupted by special interests."

If you have any doubt that the corporations control Florida, put them aside.

[imdjh]

1. Perhaps they were waiting for the unemployment figure to go above 10% n/t

[zbdent]

2. I'm reminded of all the dollars the refineries put into reinforcing the levees in New Orleans ...

$0 ...

it was all the work and $$$ of the Army Corps of Engineers ... despite all the record profits of the oil companies ...

so why should I believe that they will be environmentally safe off the Florida coast? (and remember, the one time Jeb Bush went against his brother W was when he was worried that the oil on the beaches of Florida would ruin tourism ...)

[madfloridian]

3. Supporters of bill promise state 31 billion in next 20 years.

They are buying out the state leaders, including Crist.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/apr/21/oil-bill-advancing-house-allows-drilling-three-mil/

"TALLAHASSEE — A controversial measure to allow oil drilling off Florida’s coast passed a House panel Tuesday over the objections of environmentalists who called the newly filed proposal rash and poorly defined.

Following a polished presentation by oil-drilling advocates and an impromptu environmental rebuttal, the House Policy Council voted to lift a legislative ban on drilling in state waters and allow the governor and Cabinet to approve leases as close as three miles off the Florida shore.

Saying the state could reap at least $31 billion in tax revenue over the next 20 years if oil production were developed, backers say public sentiment has changed during the past few years and now is the time for the state to lift its long-term ban.

On that note, backers released a Mason-Dixon Polling and Research survey showing 59 percent of respondents support drilling off Florida’s coast."

I think you can make a poll say anything you want it to say.

If Floridians don't speak out on this, then we deserve what we get.