Florida House Speaker Larry Cretulissued a ringing statement Tuesday,accusingGov. Charlie Crist ofunnecessarily wasting taxpayers' money,playing political gamesand distracting state leaders from solving the state's real problems right now.
"Current state and federal law already bans drilling off the shores of Florida," Cretul said, "and let me reaffirm that there are no efforts under way in the Legislature to change that."
The speaker issued his statement minutes after Gov. Charlie Crist announced plans to hold a special session of the Legislature on asking voters in Novemberto put an oil-drilling ban in the Florida Constitution.
"I don't know exactly when we will call it, but I know it will be called," said Crist at a media event before Tuesdays Cabinet meeting.
"The special session will talk about forms of renewable energy -- wind, solar, nuclear," noted the governor.
But Cretul countered, "Bringing the Legislature back into session to debate a constitutional amendment for November's 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; it is merely a political ploy to promote the future of politicians."
A special session costs taxpayers upwards of $40,000 a day.
Crist, who left the Republican Party last month to continue his campaign for the U.S. Senate, said he had spoken with Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, and that legislators were expecting the session. What he did not mention is that, like Cretul, Atwater opposes any notion of a special session on asking voters to decide ifan oil-drilling banshould be embedded inthe Constitution.
"At a time when our economy is facing record deficits, it is imperative that government use every dollar provided by Florida's taxpayers wisely,'' Atwater said in a press release. " ... I have asked Gov. Crist to submit energy legislation to us that would have minimal impact on Florida's rate-paying citizens and be mindful of the state of Florida's budget."
WhileCrist did not offer a precise date for the special session, staffers say they expect it to start May 24 and run for a week. Crist even hinted that he was open to a second one dealing with political reform, but that energy was a higher priority.
The governor said at the Cabinet meeting that the oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico was the chief reason for the special session.
This has caused a re-emergence, if you will, for alternative sources of energy for this country, Crist said. With 80 million tourists visiting Florida annually, Crist said that the state could not afford the economic losses that oil spills from offshore drilling may cause. We are inextricably linked between our environment and our economy.
Said Cretul, "The governor was critical in a veto message during the past session of a legislative process he characterized as 'legislation sped through committees without meaningful input.' Surely any proposed amendment to the state Constitution warrants more than the hurried deliberation that such a special session would necessarily produce."
The impact of the oil spill leaked over the Cabinet meeting -- even in comments celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Florida Native Plant Society and in the opening prayer, where the guest pastor asked for divine intervention to disperse the oil spill in the Gulf.
Reaction from the Cabinet for the governors call for a special session was mixed. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Democratic candidate for governor, praised Crist for considering calling a special session to push for the amendment.
Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles Bronson was opposed to the idea. Theyve been drilling for 40 years in the Gulf of Mexico without a single accident until this one, said Bronson, who acknowledged the results of the Deepwater Horizon incident as a terrible, terrible situation.
Bronson reminded the Cabinet that members did not know what the future held and expressed concern that nations in the Middle East could cut the United States off from oil down the road. We ought to know all the facts before we overreact, he said.
Attorney General Bill McCollum,Republican candidate for governor,said he didn't think a special session was necessary. He promised that, if he's elected governor, he willveto any legislation that makes it easier to drill for oil offshore.
Among the legislators, for the most part, Democrats backed the governor's call and Republicans opposed it.
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 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.
The Cabinet listened to a presentation from DEP Secretary Michael Sole on the efforts to contain the oil spill in the Gulf and the impact it may have on Florida.
Im amazed we have not been directly affected by this yet, said Crist. I think we have to thank God for it. The winds and the current have been in our favor.
Crist added, We have the best emergency management team in the nation right here in Florida."
Florida is open to business, he said. Its a beautiful place and our waters are clean.
Cretul concluded his statement opposing the special session by saying, "Drilling in Florida's waters is currently banned by law and will remain so. There is no need for taxpayers to pay for a special session just to provide a platform for politicians to score political points."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or (850) 727-0859. Alex Tiegenand Nancy Smith contributed to this story.
