Florida House Dems Do Not Like Proposed Oil Ban Amendment's Chances

Hours before the Legislature convened at noon on Tuesday to open a special session, Democrats in Tallahassee called for Republican leadership to forward a proposed constitutional amendment banning oil drilling in state waters to the voters in November.

While rumors continue to fly that the Legislature would quickly adjourn, the House Democrats urged the Republicans to focus on the proposed amendment.

The issue today is to pass legislation to allow people to vote whether to let Florida become an oil state, said House Democratic Leader Franklin Sands of Weston.

Even people who oppose the drilling ban want a say in this issue, said Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota.

We think we should hear this amendment and let the voters decide, said Incoming House Leader Ron Saunders, D-Key West.

But the Democratic leadership did not sound optimistic about the Legislature doing much in the special session.

We are told we will gavel in and gavel out, said Sands, who said voters would remember in November. The Republican Legislature must be held accountable.

With the primary election coming up on Aug. 24 and the many close contests looming in November, politics were on the Democrats minds.

Sands called the clash over the proposed amendment a contest between the governor and the Republican Legislature.

They do not trust their elected leaders and their Legislature and they shouldnt, said Fitzgerald about Florida voters.