House Dividing on Party Lines on Energy Special Session

House members from both sides of the aisle are weighing in on Gov. Charlie Crists plan to call a special session to send a constitutional amendment letting Florida voters determine if there should be offshore drilling in state waters to the November ballot.

Bringing the Legislature back into special session to debate a constitutional amendment for Novembers election that simply duplicates current law is neither immediately urgent nor truly in the best interests of protecting Floridians, or our environment, or our economy, said Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala. It is merely a political ploy to promote the future of politicians.

Current state and federal law already ban drilling off the shores of Florida, said Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, who had criticized Democratic demands for a special session last week. Our state resources and leadership should be focused on solving the real problem at hand.

I agree with Speaker Cretul that a special session is unnecessary," said incoming Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, who has strongly backed offshore enegry exploration. "State and federal law already prohibits oil drilling off of Floridas shores and lifting the ban will be off the table while I am speaker, so a special session to address it is unwarranted."

Echoing comments made last week calling for the governor to hold a special session, House Democrats came out in favor of the session and the proposed amendment.

I have voted against offshore drilling each time that its been considered in the Florida House of Representatives, and I still oppose it, said Rep. Mary Brandenburg, D-West Palm Beach. Now is the right time to settle, once and for all, the question of whether or not to allow drilling in the state waters surrounding Florida.

I am encouraged by Gov. Crist's interest in calling a special session to draft legislation that would protect the hundreds of billions of dollars that we generate from our coastal infrastructure, said Rep. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami.