Scott Maddox Throws Everything But the Kitchen Sink at Adam Putnam on Oil Drilling

Former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, the Democratic candidate for the state Agriculture and Consumer Services commissioner race, blasted U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, his Republican rival, over issues arising from the oil spill in the Gulf.

Maddox targeted Putnam for opposing a measure in the U.S. House that would end the $75 million liability limit on oil spill damages as well as his past support of drilling. Maddox also fired away at Putnam for not filing a measure to stop BP from getting a $10 billion tax write-off for its expenses incombating the oil spill.
Once again, instead of looking out for Floridians, and taking action to protect consumers as well as Floridas beaches, Congressman Putnam voted to protect his friends in the oil industry, said Maddox. While Congressman Putnam could have filed legislation which actually helps Florida consumers and prevents BP from exploiting this IRS loophole, he instead opted to push legislation that does little more than further legislation he passed in 2006, when he brokered a deal to allow offshore oil drilling within 50 miles of our coast.

In November of last year, I came out against oil drilling off the Florida coastline -- and Adam Putnam continues to vote for it and to protect his friends in the oil industry, continued Maddox. This is politics-as-usual. Leave it to a Washington politician to think he can fool Floridians with a vote to protect Big Oil and deceptive legislation, rather than doing anything substantive to protect our beaches, ecosystem or Florida taxpayers.