Florida critics blast Bush’s offshore drilling plan

By Jim Ash, Florida Capital Bureau Chief

July 14, 2008

Environmentalists blasted an announcement today by President George W. Bush that he would lift a ban on offshore drilling in hopes of spurring Congress to do the same.

Bush only has the power to lift an executive ban imposed by his father, former President George H. Bush in the early 1990s. Congress would have to lift a congressional ban and repeal a 2006 law that further protected coastal areas.

But Florida environmental groups see it as an ominous threat to thousands of miles of beaches and the billions of tourist dollars that prime the state's economic engine.

"It's sort of ironic considering that his father, George H. Bush, was dubbed the environmental president after he imposed the moratorium," said Environment Florida's Holly Binns.

Monday's announcement is even more threatening, Binns said, because Gov. Charlie Crist recently reversed his opposition to drilling and echoed a similar proposal by presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

On June 16, Crist said he would welcome the lifting of the federal moratorium in favor of giving states the right to decide if they want offshore drilling. Crist, who has been lauded by environmentalists for his strong stance on fighting global climate change, is often mentioned as a potential running mate for McCain.

Although supporters of offshore drilling acknowledge that it could take 10 years for the new oil to start flowing, Crist said he wanted to help Floridians struggling with $4-a-gallon gasoline.

"I hope I have a reputation of wanting to protect this environment, because I do," Crist told reporters last month. "But I also have to balance that ... with what's happening to Florida families, what's happening to this economy, how dependent we are on foreign oil."

"It's a huge disappointment when a politician who has had a long history of protecting Florida's environment reverses course like he has," Binns said.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Melbourne, quickly issued a angry statement denouncing the move.

"The president cruelly is misleading Americans for attempted political gain. He knows ruining our coastlines won't bring down gasoline prices nor solve our energy challenges. In fact, a recent report from inside his administration's own energy office found that increasing offshore drilling will have no impact on gas prices," Nelson said.

Crist was on an international trade mission in England today and could not immediately be reached.