Crist Speaks to Supporters of Oil Drilling Ban

Less than an hour before the Legislature was to convene at noon on Tuesday for a special session, Gov. Charlie Crist spoke to Floridians who were visiting the Capitol to lobby for the Legislature to forward a proposed constitutional amendment banning oil drilling in Florida waters to the November ballot and received a standing ovation for his support of the ban.

Thank you for caring so deeply about our beautiful Florida, said Crist to the group -- which was being organized by a number of environmental groups including Audubon of Florida and the Florida Wildlife Federation.

The people should be heard on this issue, said Crist, but he did not offer much reassurance that the Republican leadership in the Legislature would forward the ban. Im not going to presume they will go one way or the other, but I am a hopeful guy.

Crist added that while there were other important matters, the proposed amendment was the only time-sensitive one. It needs to be forwarded by the Legislature by Aug. 4 to make the November ballot -- something that Incoming House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders, D-Key West, spoke on earlier in the morning.