Posts in the category Economy/Jobs
Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for the week ending 3-12-10 Go! Go! Ru-bi-o! By Beach Blogger Pensacola Beach Blog State representative Stephen Precourt (R-Orlando) has proposed using state tax dollars to promote the production of "family-friendly" movies and television productions. If Congress is banning earmarks, why should voters re-elect Bill Young? By Peter Schorsch St. Petersblog 2.0 Anyone else get the feeling that the race for Florida Congressional District 10 just got a whole lot more interesting now that House Democratic leaders on Wednesday banned budget earmarks to private industry, ending a practice that has steered billions of dollars in no-bid contracts to companies and set off corruption scandals. The Rubiolution will be televised By Joy Reid The Reid Report March sure is early to be going on television for a primary in August…which tells me Team Rubio is at least somewhat concerned that AMEXgate and the $134 back wax might begin to stick. The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the week ending 3-12-10: Many Florida coastal communities resolved against drilling  Progress Florida unveiled the "Resolved Against Drilling" map, a powerful illustration and visual reminder to lawmakers of the overwhelming opposition to legislation (SB 2622) that would end Florida's ban on oil drilling in state waters. The map shows that at least 55 cities, counties, chambers of commerce, and local agencies around the state have passed resolutions (you can view the list of resolutions here) opposing Speaker-Designate Dean Cannon's (R-Winter Park) and Senate-President Designate Mike Haridopolos's (R-Melbourne) effort to sell Florida's world famous coastline to Texas oilmen. From Key West to Pensacola, few other issues to be tackled this legislative session have met with such unified opposition from local communities. "This map demonstrates in clear terms that Floridians aren't buying the misleading claims and empty economic promises Big Oil is selling our state," said Mark Ferrulo, Executive Director of Progress Florida. TAKE ACTION NOW  Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty" Big Oil and their hired hands in Tallahassee have sworn that drilling Florida’s coast would be “invisible” – that there would be no unsightly rigs just a few miles off our coast. We know different – and a recent eye opening story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has proven Big Oil’s promises completely “empty.” Click the picture above – keeping the pressure on by letting our State Senators know people like you are paying attention is how we’ll beat Big Oil.MORE ONLINE ACTIONS Pass a Resolution To Protect Florida's Beaches Now, via Audubon of Florida. Urge President Obama’s Ocean Policy Task Force to recommend against offshore drilling within any previously protected coastal waters, via Defenders of Wildlife. Tell Obama: Offshore Drilling is NOT the Answer to Energy Crisis, via Oceana. Help Drill for Solutions Not for Oil, via Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Let us decide! Petition to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, via Civic Concern. Contact Your Officials About New Drilling Off Florida's Coasts, via Civic Concern. Ask your state legislators to keep the rigs out, via Save the Manatee Club. Write a letter to the editor, via Audubon of Florida. Write your state legislators, via Audubon of Florida. Urge Senate President Jeff Atwater to oppose offshore oil drilling, via Progress Florida. Tell Sen. Atwater Not To Allow Oil Drilling In Special Session, via Audubon of Florida. Sign the petition against oil drilling, via Protect Florida’s Beaches. Tell Salazar: No drilling off Florida's Coast, via Environment Florida. Tell new Senator LeMieux to Repower America, via Environment Florida. Related action: Don't go drill crazy in the Everglades, via Center for Biological Diversity. Related action: Keep oil drilling out of climate change legislation, via Oceana. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OF NOTE Hands Across The Sand website; their Twitter page is here. Protect Florida’s Beaches, recently launched coalition website. Protect Florida’s Beaches on Facebook. Think, Baby, Think blog via Protect Florida’s Beaches. Don’t Drill Florida website. Don’t Drill Florida Facebook page. Save Our Shores Florida website; their Twitter page is here. Floridians Against Big Oil social network. Save Our Shores Florida Facebook page. Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition website. Environment Florida offshore drilling page. Southern Alliance for Clean Energy offshore drilling page. Skytruth blog, an excellent source of info. Not the Answer blog, courtesy Surfrider Foundation. Eye-opening map of oil and gas leases and infrastructure in Gulf of Mexico, via MMS. EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, last week:
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush made his strongest statement to date on the Republican Senate primary unfolding in his state, telling the conservative publication NewsMax in an on-camera interview that he considers Gov. Charlie Crist's support for last year's stimulus bill "unforgivable." The stimulus essentially bailed out Florida last year, preventing deep and incredibly destructive cuts to our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. In my community, 522 first and second year teachers still have jobs because of the stimulus. If the right wing Florida legislature had its way, those folks would be on unemployment, likely still searching for a half-decent job. But back to good 'ol Jeb. To him Gov. Crist's support for the stimulus was "unforgivable." But that didn't stop Jeb from showing some love for Race to the Top, a federal education grant program set up by the stimulus. Matt Yglesias caught this, and noted the following: And you see this time and again. Folks on the right are sharply critical of “the stimulus” but generally raise no objections to large swathes of the stimulus—they like their local infrastructure projects, they like their tax cuts, and the more sensible among them like the education money. Yes indeed. Even right wing hero Jeb Bush loves some part of the stimulus. Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for the week ending 3-5-10 Bilked: another story from South Florida For Florida, A Time for Leadership Lying to Our Kids The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the week ending 2-19-10:
Hands Across The Sand coverage Hundreds line Pinellas County beaches to protest near-shore oil drilling By Curtis KruegerSt. Petersburg Times Hundreds lined Pinellas County's beaches and many more came to more than 70 coastal locations around Florida to protest the idea of drilling close to the state's shoreline.Protesters across Florida rally against offshore oil drilling By Maria Herrera South Florida Sun-SentinelRelated video: Raging Grannies at Hands Across the Sand, Delray Beach They looked like dark spots of tar freshly washed upon the shore.Protesters draw line in sand over oil drilling By Sarah OwenPanama City News Herald Chains of hand-holding Floridians stretched across shorelines from Pensacola to Key West to show solidarity in their opposition of offshore oil drilling.Hundreds hold 'Hands Across the Sand' to protest oil drilling off Florida's coast By Adam PlayfordPalm Beach Post The man on the stage says it's time, and Ian, who is 8, is ready.Protesters gather at the beach By Todd RugerSarasota Herald-Tribune More than 250 people joined hands on the famous powdery sands of Siesta Public Beach on Saturday to show opposition to oil drilling as close as three to 10 miles offshore.Floridians protest offshore oil drilling By Robert GreenReuters Thousands of Floridians demonstrated against moves to allow offshore oil drilling on Saturday along the east and west coasts of the state in a protest dubbed "Hands Across the Sand."Hundreds say 'no' to offshore drilling By Rebecca RossPensacola News Journal The line of black-clad protesters was stark against thesugar-white sand. Hands clasped, they stood shoulder-to-shoulder, staring out to sea. Activists unite on beach in protest against oil drilling By Cammy Clark and Robert Samuels Miami HeraldDressed in black, some 200 people stood hand in hand on South Beach on Saturday afternoon, raising and lowering their arms as surfers behind them rode the waves. Offshore drilling protesters join hands By Richard Dymond Bradenton HeraldAn event didn’t take place Saturday at Manatee Public Beach — officially — because there was no permit for one. Floridians join hands to protest offshore drilling By Jeff Barker Northwest Florida Daily NewsHundreds of people clasped hands along the beach Saturday to show their opposition to proposed offshore oil drilling. Naples protesters drill home the message: No oil rigs off Florida's Gulf coast By Sarah Donovan Naples NewsDespite biting winds, a small group of protesters held Hands Across the Sand at a Naples beach Saturday to send a message to Florida lawmakers and coastal communities statewide. 1,000 strong at ‘Hands Across the Sand’ on St. Pete Beach By Cathy Harrelson Creative LoafingOur experience with the three ‘Hands Across the Sand’ locations on St. Pete Beach, from the public beach to the Sirata Beach Resort and past the Tradewinds Resort, was thrilling. Surfers, Scientists Say No to Oil Drilling Off Florida Coast By Natalie O'Neill Miami New TimesJesse Bull, a surfer with a tidy goatee, rides a four-foot wave to shore on a blustery South Beach day. "Hands Across the Sand" Protest of Oil Drilling off Florida's Coast By Geniusofdespair Eye on MiamiThe protest went on all over Florida yesterday. People dressed in black, to signify an oil slick, joined hands at about 2pm in solidarity against oil drilling off Florida's Coast. Thank you Miami Surfriders and Progress Florida for bringing Hands Across the Sand to my attention. Hands Across the Sand Was A Huge Success: Human Chain Creates Line Around State to Protect Florida's Beaches Audubon of Florida Advocate Thousands of people at scores of locations throughout Florida showed up to hold hands and form a human chain to protect Florida's beaches.Oil drilling could change Florida for the worse EditorialTC Palm The Treasure Coast chapter of Surfrider and others concerned with the environment got together Saturday at Stuart Beach for “Hands Across the Sand,” a statewide protest of efforts to open Florida waters to offshore oil drilling.
Other drilling news Rep. Seth McKeel Pushes For End To Off-Shore Drilling Moratorium By Bill RuftyLakeland Ledger Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, asking the U.S. Congress to remove the moratorium on oil drilling in federal waters surrounding Florida, cleared the House General Government Policy Council on Wednesday.Experts: 2010 may not be make, break for drilling By Melissa NelsonThe Associated Press The Florida Legislature has considered for several years changing state law to allow exploration for oil and natural gas but hasn't brought the issue up for a vote. This year may be no different - but it will still weigh heavy in the upcoming session's background.Oil drilling legislation not likely this year, lawmakers say By Daniel CarsonPanama City News Herald Area legislators expressed doubts Friday that the Florida Legislature will pass any offshore oil drilling-related bills in 2010 due to concerns about impacts on military missions, the region’s tourism industry and the environment.Florida lawmakers hear good, bad of Gulf oil drilling By Brandon LarrabeeFlorida Times-Union Those involved in responding to offshore drilling incidents in the Gulf of Mexico told lawmakers Thursday about the steps that had been taken to minimize the impact of oil spills, as others warned that the consequences of exploring for oil in state waters might not be clear.League of Women Voters opposes offshore, near-shore drilling By Clara Anne Graham and Laura MillerFt. Myers News-Press The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.TAKE ACTION NOW Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty" Big Oil and their hired hands in Tallahassee have sworn that drilling Florida’s coast would be “invisible” – that there would be no unsightly rigs just a few miles off our coast. We know different – and a recent eye opening story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has proven Big Oil’s promises completely “empty.” Click the picture above – keeping the pressure on by letting our State Senators know people like you are paying attention is how we’ll beat Big Oil.
Extra, Extra. The economy still sucks. Didn’t need to hear today’s “unexpectedly” bad news from the Labor Department about a new surge in unemployment filings to know just how many of us are hurting, and how badly.
No, all it took to “rub it in” was a trip to my local Home Depot here in Southeast Florida - a trip I made with some degree of trepidation. Read More »  By Andy Marlette, Pensacola News Journal BONUS CARTOON  By Andy Marlette, Pensacola News Journal Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for the week ending 2-12-10 I Suspect This Is Where We're Going By Gimleteye Eye on Miami In a 2 PM press conference, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson will announce that she will not run for re-election.  By Jim Morin, Miami Herald BONUS CARTOON  By Jeff Parker, Florida Today Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for the week ending 1-22-10 What's Crist to do (besides dropping out and endorsing Kendrick Meek)? By Geniusofdespair Eye on Miami The only person who signed the Corporate papers (filed January 21st) for this 501c4 is Richard E. Coates, a Tallahassee lobbyist, who also happens to have as a client Barney Bishop's "Associated Industries of Florida".CBS Tainting Super Bowl Broadcast By Daniel Tilson Progress Florida In rolling out what they claim is a new policy to begin broadcasting "approved" paid advocacy group advertisements, the CBS TV network is clearly taking the sensitive, low-key high road - airing the first such spot during Super Bowl 44, being played Sunday in our South Florida backyard, with a few additional folks tuning in from around the globe.Six amendments make the ballot By Bill Newton FCAN Blog It will be another busy year for voters. The Legislature wants us to give up public campaign finance, and we have a chance to make Florida's election districts more fair and eliminate gerrymandering.  By Jeff Parker, Florida Today BONUS CARTOON  By Jim Morin, Miami Herald The mayors are right:
More than 230 mayors are in Washington for the winter meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors, and many said they had been forced to impose layoffs, furloughs, service reductions and fee increases to deal with falling municipal revenue. The next fiscal year looks even worse, they said. Indeed, the first stimulus passed by Congress last year was too small. Obama's chair of the council of economic advisers, Christina Romer, had said the stimulus needed to be around $1.2 trillion or more to be most effective, rather than the compromised $700 billion package that was eventually passed. With that said, the first stimulus wasn't useless. It bailed out Florida from incompetent Republican legislative "leadersihp", and saved countless jobs, particularly teachers. However, according to a recent report (.pdf) from the National League of Cities a $56 to $83 billion deficit is facing our cities. States, including our own, are facing down their own deficits. While progressives are urging Florida legislators to find new sources of revenue to overcome our latest $3 billion deficit, we could use one more package from the feds. This need becomes more clear as people like future House Speaker and Senate President Dean Cannon and Mike Haridopolos go around crowing about how "the government doesn't create wealth." Anyone who has a casual relationship with reality knows different. In fact, just 5 minutes with an American history book debunks Cannon and Haridopolos' far right pablum. The government (federal, state, local) employs millions of people, provides them benefits and discretionary income. This generates a great deal of economic prosperity boosting the private sector, and through an effective regulatory framework, can build shared prosperity. Duh. So with Cannon and Haridopolos continuing the same failed economic policies of the Jeb Bush/Charlie Crist eras, we clearly need some responsible adults to step in. Whether it's a second stimulus or reforms making our state and local tax systems more productive and more progressive, our cities and states simply can't afford to shed jobs and programs in this recession. The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the week ending 1-8-10:
Oil drilling researchers face deadline By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune A group that stands to have considerable influence over the future of oil drilling off the Florida coast is unlikely to present its findings to the Legislature until the first week of March.
Promises of jobs, revenues from offshore drilling just don't add up By Scott MaddoxTC Palm I am strongly opposed to allowing near-shore drilling for oil off Florida’s coast. In coming to this conclusion, I considered several questions.
Oil lobby scaling back its presence in Tally By John KennedyThe News Service of Florida via Orlando Sentinel Florida Energy Associates, the group spearheading the effort to open the state’s Gulf waters to offshore oil-drilling, is scaling back its once dominant presence at the state Capitol.
Southern Strategy, hit on offshore drilling by Welch, loses bid By David DeCampSt. Petersburg Times Southern Strategy Group, the influential lobbying firm based in Tallahassee, has lost a bid to be Pinellas County's consultant for its latest charter review.
CEPD chairman receives ovation following speech By Jane BrickleySanibel-Captiva Islander Mike Mullins, chairman of the Captiva Erosion Prevention District received a standing ovation from the audience last Tuesday after he addressed the Lee County Legislative Delegation at Edison State College.
Drilling in the Gulf or Hands Across the Sand?: Debate spills into Destin Chamber of Commerce By Fraser ShermanDestin Log If the beauty of the Emerald Coast doesn't convince you to oppose oil drilling, South Walton's David Rauschkolb says, think of the beauty of the Emerald Coast economy.
Top Dem offshore oil drilling advocate retiring By Jeremy WallaceSarasota Herald-Tribune One of the U.S. Senate’s most vocal pro-oil drilling Democrats has announced he’s retiring and won’t see re-election in 2010.Editorial Gainesville Sun Would legislators take notice if tens of thousands of Floridians joined hands on Feb. 13 to protect Florida's beaches? We hope so, right now they only seem to be taking notice of Big Oil's money and influence.
Near-Shore Oil Drilling: Deep-Sea Tech Wrong for Florida EditorialLakeland Ledger Floridians and their legislators have had many reasons to be skeptical since proposals surfaced rapidly to open near-shore waters to exploration and drilling for oil.
TAKE ACTION NOW Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty" Big Oil and their hired hands in Tallahassee have sworn that drilling Florida’s coast would be “invisible” – that there would be no unsightly rigs just a few miles off our coast. We know different – and a recent eye opening story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has proven Big Oil’s promises completely “empty.” Click the picture above – keeping the pressure on by letting our State Senators know people like you are paying attention is how we’ll beat Big Oil.
MORE ONLINE ACTIONS Help Drill for Solutions Not for Oil, via Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Let us decide! Petition to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, via Civic Concern.Contact Your Officials About New Drilling Off Florida's Coasts, via Civic Concern. Ask your state legislators to keep the rigs out, via Save the Manatee Club.Write a letter to the editor, via Audubon of Florida. Write your state legislators, via Audubon of Florida.Urge Senate President Jeff Atwater to oppose offshore oil drilling, via Progress Florida. Tell Sen. Atwater Not To Allow Oil Drilling In Special Session, via Audubon of Florida.Sign the petition against oil drilling, via Protect Florida’s Beaches. Tell Salazar: No drilling off Florida's Coast, via Environment Florida.Tell new Senator LeMieux to Repower America, via Environment Florida. Related action: Don't go drill crazy in the Everglades, via Center for Biological Diversity.Related action: Keep oil drilling out of climate change legislation, via Oceana. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OF NOTE Hands Across The Sand website; their Twitter page is here. Protect Florida’s Beaches, recently launched coalition website.Protect Florida’s Beaches on Facebook. Think, Baby, Think blog via Protect Florida’s Beaches.Don’t Drill Florida website. Don’t Drill Florida Facebook page.Save Our Shores Florida website; their Twitter page is here. Save Our Shores Florida Facebook page.Environment Florida offshore drilling page. Southern Alliance for Clean Energy offshore drilling page.Skytruth blog, an excellent source of info. Not the Answer blog, courtesy Surfrider Foundation.Eye-opening map of oil and gas leases and infrastructure in Gulf of Mexico, via MMS. EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here.
Senator Mike Haridpolos and Representative Dean Cannon aren't Senate President and House Speaker yet, but they're already set to do a bang up job during this year's legislative session:
As leaders, we must have the courage to get government out of the way of job creation. This commitment includes a focus on developing a meaningful state strategy for action in three key areas. Hoo boy - there's a lot of status quo in that excerpt! It shouldn't be news to anyone that the policy of the government of the state of Florida for the last decade (likely longer) was to get "government out of the way." Major economic policy shifts or proposals made during both the Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist eras have been about getting "government out of the way", from Bush's pledge to empty the offices in Tallahassee to Crist's kowtowing to the developer's lobby by signing SB 360 last year. Apparently Haridopolos and Cannon have been in a deep sleep since 1999. But let's face it, they've been wide awake the whole time. They know this has been the focus of policy making in Tallahassee for many years. So this isn't about job creation or helping Floridians - it's about continuing to move the ideological ball that Jeb Bush started rolling - recession or 11.5% unemployment be damned. This is nothing more than a continuation of failed policies - deregulation, unaccountable tax cuts/credits, starving and killing public programs like education, Medicaid, and Florida Forever that help people and communities. We know where these policies have put our state. We're near dead last in education funding, we have the 3rd highest dropout rate. We have the 2nd worst tax system in the country which puts a disproportionate burden on the middle class and the poor, and are the 16th highest spender on jails and corrections. Florida has one of the highest number of uninsured, including children. One thing's for sure, we don't need the government to get out the way. As Floridians we need our government to pick up a shovel and help us dig out of the hole the last decade's conservative economic policies have put us in. The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the week ending 12-11-09: As focus centers on the current struggle over health reform in Washington, many are unaware of a critical set of reforms undergoing debate this week in the House of Representatives that could have just as much impact on everyday Americans, particularly Floridians.
The “Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act” (H.R. 4173) represents an opportunity to restore accountability to our financial system by ensuring banks, lenders and Wall Street titans no longer treat the economy like a casino. Although numerous amendments – some designed to strengthen the bill, others to weaken it – are being introduced and considered, the most important piece of this legislation would be the formation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) that would police banks and crack down on predatory lending practices that have pushed our economy to the brink of collapse. Florida already has some of the highest rates of home foreclosure in the country, yet with more than 2 million Florida homeowners currently ‘underwater’ on their mortgage, the Center for Responsible Lending projects that there will be 1.5 million additional foreclosures in our state through 2012. The wave of foreclosures and resulting fall in property values has crippled Florida’s economy, but rather than supporting efforts to ensure fair lending practices and stabilize our financial system, Big Banks (led by the American Bankers Association and industry groups like the US Chamber of Commerce) are fighting tooth and nail to preserve the status quo. The irony of course is that taxpayers literally spent trillions of dollars bailing out the banks after they played Russian roulette with the economy – and now in return the banks are spending millions lobbying against reforms necessary to protect consumers and prevent another economic collapse. One Florida lawmaker who could be pivotal in all of this is Orlando-area Democratic Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, who sits on the House Financial Services Committee. In Kosmas’ district alone there are nearly 10,000 delinquent mortgages, and more than 15 percent of the houses in her district sit vacant. Yet according to the Orlando Sentinel, Rep. Kosmas received more than $20,000 from banks and financial service companies last fundraising quarter alone. Kosmas’ situation represents a microcosm of the challenge to lawmakers: will she stand with voters in her district and support reforms to protect Main Street from unfair Wall Street business practices, or side with big business lobbyists that are spending thousands on her next political campaign? Hopefully Kosmas’ recent vote against health care reform, where she sided with health insurance lobbyists, will not foreshadow her position on reforming our banking and financial system.  For too long the banks and financial institutions have been able to write their own rules, and the result has been the worst economic disaster of our lifetimes. The need for a strong CFPA to defend consumers from lending abuses has never been clearer. Rep. Kosmas, are you listening? To learn more about the need for strong financial reform, including how a CFPA would help ensure a safe, fair marketplace, visit http://ourfinancialsecurity.org/. Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for week ending 12-11-09 Teabagger hate splinters GOP By Jacqueline Dowd The 13th Juror If you're feeling like the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, you may be on to something.Elevating Tamiami Trail and Everglades restoration By Gimleteye Eye on Miami The photo was taken yesterday at the ceremony to commence elevation of one mile of Tamiami Trail: the first construction project for the Everglades that is only for the Everglades and not for cities or agriculture. Our Editorial Cartoon of the Week feature is part of Progress Florida's popular FREE Daily Clips service:
The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the two weeks ending 12-4-09:
 Faulty promises in bid to drill off Florida? By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune Take action now: Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty" The oil industry makes its case for drilling within a few miles of Florida’s coast by trumpeting a new kind of drilling that is “virtually invisible” on the coast. Lobbyists pay out as oil issue heats up By Paul Flemming Gannett Florida Capital Bureau Related: Some leery of the revenue promised by oil Related: Energy industry political contributions database Money makes things happen in this capital city. Consider Florida Energy Associates LLC, the entity behind the current push for drilling in Florida waters. Drilling bill would likely pass House but not Senate By Bill Cotterell Gannett Florida Capital Bureau Related: Lawmakers are wary of oily beaches Related: Real prize could lie in waters controlled by US government Related: Oil drilling: the players The push for the Florida Legislature to approve near-shore Gulf Coast drilling in its 2010 session is like oil exploration itself — surveys and projections, expert opinions, test wells to take the political pulse and throwing around plenty of money in search of a gusher that ends in a positive vote. Gulf of Mexico drilling proposal worries conservationists, tourism officials By Jim Waymer Gannett Newspapers Related: Oil & Water: The debate over drilling in Florida Related: Military bases could feel drilling's impact Related: Where will they drill? ... and other questions Related column: Why risk damaging tourism? Oil spills kill fish, birds and tourist reservations. New report says oil drilling will harm Florida coasts (includes audio) By Lauren Martinez WMNF Community Radio Tampa The 3 to 10 miles the Florida Legislature controls off the state’s coastline has caught the attention of oil lobbyists who want to remove the drilling ban. Offshore oil drillers now looking at Florida's east coast By Jim Waymer Florida Today Wildcat wells might one day spring up off the Space Coast. Florida's move to drill could sway Congress By Jim Ash Pensacola News Journal The immediate debate in the Legislature is about drilling in waters controlled by the state in the narrow band up to 10.3 miles from the coast. St. Joe Company mum on offshore oil drilling By Jim Ash Ft. Myers News-Press Northwest Florida, proud home of turquoise waters and sugar-sand beaches, has become ground zero in the fight against the Legislature's push for offshore drilling. Lots of risk, no reward in drilling off the coast of Florida By Carter Hall TC Palm The siren song of big oil is seductive and enticing. It promises many things for Floridians: cheaper gas, more gas, new jobs, help with Florida’s budget problems and finally, safe technology with no spills. Paradise lost to oil drilling By Jonathan T. Baxter Pensacola News Journal I am a world traveler who, in a lighthearted way, has always said that if I find the perfect beach I would stop traveling. Oil drilling momentum stuns Graham By Jeremy Wallace Sarasota Herald-Tribune Former Florida Gov. Bob Graham is dismayed at how fast oil drilling advocates are gaining ground in their push to open the Gulf of Mexico to drilling. Old Florida needs to let go of old ways By Matthew Christ Independent Alligator The Gulf of Mexico may look calm from the porch I’ve perched myself on for the Thanksgiving holiday, but a contentious political storm is slowly brewing over efforts afoot in the Florida Legislature to repeal a ban on offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Offshore drilling resolution passes By Suzette Porter Tampa Bay Weekly Despite objections from one Largo resident, the Board of Pinellas County Commissioners approved, 6-1, on Nov. 17, a resolution opposing oil and gas drilling in Florida’s waters. Local elected officials urge opposition to drilling in gulf By Sara Kennedy Bradenton Herald In an effort to counter proposals to allow oil and gas drilling as close as three miles from shore, Manatee County commissioners have written a letter opposing drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, officials said. Southwest Florida's tourism industry OK with rigs, just not close to beach By Laura Ruane Ft. Myers News-Press Southwest Florida’s lifeblood tourism industry, which promotes itself as the “Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel,” has mixed views about offshore drilling. Florida's gulf drilling debate Editorial Northwest Florida Daily News In a few months, the Florida Legislature will debate whether to allow drilling for oil and natural gas as close as three miles from Gulf Coast beaches. It's just not worth it Editorial Pensacola News Journal The News Journal Editorial Board has long opposed drilling within 100 miles of Gulf Coast beaches — even 150 miles, as proposed during congressional negotiations in 2006. Certainly not in state waters, within 10 miles of the coastline. Atwater rejects rigged deck Editorial Palm Beach Post Fortunately, one of the three people who could stop the oil rush in Florida has done so. TAKE ACTION NOW  Click the picture above to urge Senate President Jeff Atwater to oppose state legislative efforts that would allow offshore oil drilling off Florida’s coast. LATEST ONLINE ACTIONS Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty", via Progress Florida. Let us decide! Petition to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, via Civic Concern. Contact Your Officials About New Drilling Off Florida's Coasts, via Civic Concern. MORE ONLINE ACTIONS Ask your state legislators to keep the rigs out, via Save the Manatee Club. Write a letter to the editor, via Audubon of Florida. Write your state legislators, via Audubon of Florida. Tell Sen. Atwater Not To Allow Oil Drilling In Special Session, via Audubon of Florida. Sign the petition against oil drilling, via Protect Florida’s Beaches. Tell Salazar: No drilling off Florida's Coast, via Environment Florida. Tell new Senator LeMieux to Repower America, via Environment Florida. Related action: Don't go drill crazy in the Everglades, via Center for Biological Diversity. Related action: Keep oil drilling out of climate change legislation, via Oceana. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OF NOTE Protect Florida’s Beaches, recently launched coalition website. Protect Florida’s Beaches on Facebook. Think, Baby, Think blog via Protect Florida’s Beaches. Don’t Drill Florida website. Don’t Drill Florida Facebook page. Hands Across The Sand website. Environment Florida offshore drilling page. Skytruth blog, an excellent source of info. Not the Answer blog, courtesy Surfrider Foundation. EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here. Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for week ending 12-4-09 Big Oil's Claims About Safe, "Invisible" Drilling Are Declared Bunk By Bill Newton Florida Consumer Action Network blog Today's St. Petersburg Times explains what's going on with the crack in the 42 inch thick containment wall of Progress Energy's Crystal River Nuclear Plant. Posts By Month
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