Palm Beach County Dems call for offshore drilling panel

by Michael C. Bender | October 7th, 2009

Deutch

State Sens. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, and Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, called today for a panel of economic and energy experts to travel the state next year and craft a recommendation about changing the state’s strict offshore drilling policies. The bill is drafted anticipating a special session in November.

“We have a duty to make sure we don’t let quick decisions in the pursuit of potentially easy budget fixes get in the way of a balanced economy that includes considerable revenue from coastal tourism,” Deutch said.

The bill would call for a nine-member panel of experts, known as the Florida Energy independence and Coastal Protection Task Force. It would include appointees from the governor, the House speaker, Senate president and, uniquely, one each from the minority party leaders in each chamber. (Read the press release here.)

Aronberg

Deutch and Aronberg both characterized their bill as a way to slow down the issue. House Republicans, led by Dean Cannon of Orlando, introduced a bill late in the session this year to let the governor and Cabinet open Florida’s coastline to offshore drilling. The surge in gas prices last summer — combined with an historic drop in state tax collections — also led formerly staunch opponents of drilling, including Gov. Charlie Crist, to reconsider the issue.

The two Democrats said their panel would represent “broader interests” take a more “balanced approach” than the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida, which opened hearings in Tallahassee on Monday on the oil drilling.

That commission has no plans to leave Tallahassee, while the proposed group would hold at least six meetings around the state next year and consider a list of specific effects from drilling, including potential revenue increases for the state and the cost to clean up “a worst-case spill.”

“There has been a rush to drill,” said Aronberg, a candidate for attorney general in 2010. “This whole drill-baby-drill mentality needs to slow down and calm down.”

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Tags: Dave Aronberg, offshore drilling, Ted Deutch

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4 Responses to “Palm Beach County Dems call for offshore drilling panel”

1. Enough already Says:
   October 7th, 2009 at 1:13 pm

   So wait. We don’t want to rush this whole “drill baby drill” mentality while we remain dependent on foreign oil, giving money to terrorists. But we do want to rush the healthcare issue which will not even take affect until 2013 and will impact 1/6 of our nation’s economy.

   ARE THEY THAT STUPID?! YUP

2. hedlykarok Says:
   October 7th, 2009 at 1:50 pm

   Sure, let’s spoil the whole coast to save a few gallons of oil. That is stupid. A much better solution is to legalize industrial hemp.

3. MoRon Says:
   October 7th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

   You cannot see rigs if they’re at least 20 miles offshore! Besides, the if oil prices spike again, tourism will decline more than it is today.

4. Andre' Kervran Says:
   October 21st, 2009 at 4:23 am

   As a member of more than one credible environmental organization that has eternally battled, what amounts to be a
   “SEA” grab, allow me to comment. There has been NO definitive declaration by ANY independent entity of ‘worthwhile’ deposits in the eastern Gulf! The buying of parcels and the political slicing and dicing of precious sea sanctuaries will NOT be allowed by the citizens of Florida! Having E-mailed this to the POST and reading the piddling backward spew of the kneejerkers, it is certain that the gallant attempts of state Sen.
   Deutch & Aronberg will at least make some attempt at rationalizing a debate
   that will spear the sunshine light of Reason…
   Thank you,
   Andre’ J Kervran