http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/florida-democrats-divided-obama-drilling-plan-0
Sunshine State News
Florida Democrats Divided on Obama Drilling Plan
BY: KEVIN DERBY | POSTED: APRIL 13, 2010 12:15 AM
It’s rare to see a former Florida Democratic Party chairman taking President Barack Obama to task — but that’s exactly what Scott Maddox is doing on the issue of offshore oil drilling.
With Obama having come out for expanded offshore energy exploration, including up to 125 miles off the shore of the Sunshine State, Florida Democrats are somewhat divided in their backing of the president. While some leading Democrats, including state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, are backing the president, Maddox and Democrats in the U.S. House continue to fight the proposal.
Maddox, now the frontrunner in a crowded Democratic primary for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services, had made opposition to offshore drilling one of the centerpieces of his campaign, even answering calls to “drill, baby, drill” with “no, baby, no.”
Maddox sent a letter to the White House on Monday, pleading with the president to pull the plug on any plans for drilling off the coast of Florida.
“When it comes to offshore oil drilling however, on behalf of the millions of Floridians who depend on clean beaches, clean water and a struggling tourism economy; please, not in our backyard,” wrote Maddox.
He played up the financial threat that offshore drilling could represent to Florida tourism.
“These beaches are not just environmental treasures; they are one of the most important drivers of our economy as well,” wrote Maddox. “In fact, we depend on their environmental vitality to ensure our financial security.”
Maddox is not alone among Florida’s Democrats in pushing back against the president’s call for expanded drilling. U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz sent a letter to the president on March 31, blasting his proposal for offshore drilling 125 miles from Florida’s shores.
Like Maddox, the representatives focused on the environmental impact as well as the potential damage offshore drilling could have on tourism.
“In an already depressed economy, and with unemployment in the state of Florida nearing 13 percent, the last thing we need to do is endanger nearly one million jobs and the $65 billion tourism industry in our state,” said Brown. “Indeed, drilling for oil anywhere near Florida’s coasts, even if the drilling takes place more than 125 miles offshore, could prove devastating to Florida’s tourist industry.”
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor sent a letter to the president April 5 in which she expressed her concerns with drilling off Florida’s shores.
“There are some places in our country that are too special to drill,” said Castor. “Florida’s coastline certainly fits that description.”
Still, the president’s plan has backers among Florida Democrats.
State CFO Alex Sink, the likely Democratic gubernatorial nominee, endorsed the president’s plan March 31.
“I support additional offshore exploration 125 miles from Florida’s coasts,” Sink said, though she added that she opposed drilling closer to the shore.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson offered conditional support for the president’s plans, but he is waiting to meet with officials from the defense department before fully endorsing them. Nelson is attempting to schedule meeting with Pentagon brass to see if drilling would get in the way of military operations off Florida’s coast.
The primary field for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated reflected the divisions among Florida Democrats.
U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the frontrunner in the Democratic primary, had some concerns about the president’s proposal and said that the issue needed to be looked at in depth.
“Today’s announcement on energy security and independence requires serious consideration and study as questions remain unanswered, but caution must trump expediency,” Meek said after the president released his plan.
Former North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns, one of Meek’s opponents in the Democratic primary, blasted Obama’s plans.
“From day one of my campaign I have said, ‘Not one mile, not five miles, not 50 miles, not 100 miles off our shores’,” said Burns. “Our economy, our way of life and our children’s future are too important to play political games with – we need real solutions for energy independence, not more short term profiteering for the richest corporations.”
Contact Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com, or at (904) 521-3722.
Special thanks to Richard Charter