Not totally unexpected, the Republican-led Florida House voted less than 50 minutes after convening on Tuesday, to adjourn the four-day Special Session called by Governor Charlie Crist to fashion and pass a constitutional ban on oil exploration in state waters. The measure would have required passage by three-fifth of the legislature for it to be placed on the November ballot for voter approval, a tall order for Crist.
But, House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, didn’t even allow for a vote and moved a motion to adjourn the special session sine die, in a 67-44 vote. Similarly, under the leadership of Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, the senate voted 18-16 to adjourn, without debate.
This means that the oil ban amendment will not be on the November ballot and Floridians won’t have an opportunity to vote on the issue until possibly 2012.
House and Senate Democrats, along with a majority of Floridians (71%) according to a recent poll released by environmentalists, support a constitutional ban on drilling off the coast of Florida. This, more so in light of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster that have seen the soiling of several beaches and a fall off in tourist arrivals to the state. Viewed as the worst oil disaster in the history of the U.S., economists have forecast that the decline in tourism, fisheries and related businesses would cost the state billions in lost income and revenue and thousands of jobs.
Reacting swiftly to the adjournment on Tuesday, Democratic legislators said:
“There is no question that this session is an embarrassment–and it simply shows how out of touch and corrupt the Republican politicians in Tallahassee have become.”
There is the wide-spread view that, Republicans adjourned the sessions so as not to jeopardize party contributions provided by the oil industry and other lobbyists, of which Senate President Jeff Atwater is a top recipient.
Newcomer Democrat Amy Mercado (District 35) who is challenging Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, in the upcoming elections, was even more blunt.
“Rep. Dean Cannon and other Republican leaders continue to oppose a state constitutional amendment to ban drilling off the Florida coast and voted to adjourn the special session”, Mecardo said. “Cannon’s record in Tallahassee is one big mess and it’s time to clean it up. For too long the Republican leadership has ignored the voices of the people. It is time to change that by changing who we elect to represent us.”
67 State Representatives just voted themselves out of office yesterday with a stand against Citizens wanting to vote on the oil drilling ban. A politically motivated move of self-interest reflects ‘Florida politic’s as usual’, instead of representing their constiutents, the Citizens of Florida. Remember this action when you go to the polls Nov. 2nd