Posts in the category Progressive Movement
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 St. Petersburg Times columnist Howard Troxler, cites my favorite Florida politician, former Gov. Reubin Askew, as evidence of leadership that worked out well for Florida:
A new governor named Reubin Askew — sometimes with the help of the Legislature, and sometimes despite it — led Florida in an unprecedented program of modernization and reform, including: Troxler goes on to bemoan the lack of "leadership" that exists with the current regime in Tallahassee. And goes on to propose a set of ideas that have mostly been embraced by progressives and Democrats: Above all else, fix Florida's tax structure. Get rid of the loopholes and tax breaks — and if you're worried that's a "tax increase," then you should lower the overall rate on everybody else who's been paying all along. The first item, reforming Florida's antiquated and regressive tax structure that harms working families and lets the wealthy get away with quite a bit is correctly put at the top of the list. Progress Florida's "Stop The Cuts" petition effort, which we launched yesterday, is a first step to move momentum for reform out of the think tanks and newspaper columns and into the grassroots. But here's the thing about Troxler's otherwise great column: the regime that occupies Tallahassee believes they are leading. The problem is, as we know, that their reactionary "leadership" has hurt our state immensely for the roughly 12 years the Republicans have controlled the legislature and Governor's mansion. And no, any attempt by the press to do their typical "both sides are at fault" meme is just silly. The Dems haven't been in charge of any house of the legislature since 1996 and the Governor's mansion since 1998. Gerrymandering has kept them out, and the minority party is powerless to do very much. Until there's a change of leadership and focus in Tallahassee, it will be very hard to accomplish much of anything that will benefit working people rather than just special interests who can bundle $500 checks. However, leadership is also required from everyday Floridians, too. We can't just leave it to the politicians to solve our problems. Grassroots oriented, progressive/pro public interest groups will be needed to apply external pressure for progress regardless of who's in power. While I'm obviously biased, I think Progress Florida is a great example of such a group. Others I think also do this well include Worst to First and Fund Education Now, both of which employ organic grassroots strength to tackle major problems Florida faces. Howard Dean is still right: "You have the power." 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.
Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for the week ending 2-19-10 Note to Florida Voters: throw out the vultures and speculators By R.S. Pienta Leave a Comment A teacher I met via Facebook recently vented her frustration about the No Child Left Behind policy and how it is implemented via rules about FCAT in the state of Florida. 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 » 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. 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.
First one out of the box is an Anti-Choice propaganda spot from the Christian Right group, Focus On The Family. They have paid CBS 3-million dollars for 30 seconds of access to untold millions of viewers worldwide. Their ad features Florida college football star quarterback, Tim Tebow, telling a very personal story about his own family, a story I won't go into detail about here - but one that is already being questioned (rightly or wrongly I cannot say) all over the Internet for its full factual veracity. Read More » First things first: Unlike 24 other states across America that limit “independent” organizational advertising and media spending in support of, or in opposition to political candidates’ and issues advocacy campaigns at the state level - note that Florida has no limits on such spending.
So the Supreme Court ruling handed down in a contentious 5-4 vote (Thank Bush for the conservative majority), an ideologically extremist vote overturning long-standing limits on special interest campaign spending on U.S. congressional and presidential campaigns, will not have any impact on Florida’s 2010 state-level campaigns. That’s the “good” news. The bad news is, the bottomless pit of special interest money that has been used so many times in Florida to defeat local candidates and state initiatives that dare tamper with freewheeling corporate profits and business practices at the local and state levels (see Florida’s insurance, real estate development, and financial industries, for starters) has now been unleashed for use on federal campaigns as well. Read More » Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for week ending 1-15-10 Thinking about Kendrick Meek, the Myth of Sisyphus and whether Dan Gelber regrets dropping out of the US Senate race By Steve Schale Steve Schale This is the first of many posts I am going to write about the state of the battlefield in Florida and the forward trajectory of the state's politics.Rigged-bid county government By Beach Blogger Pensacola Beach Blog It's bad enough that promises Escambia County Government made to beach residents decades ago are intentionally broken by county commissioners. Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for week ending 1-8-10 More on Crist's base (or lack thereof) By Peter Schorsch St. Petersblog 2.0 Launching a new online effort called "53 Fixes", Rep. Rick Kriseman demonstrates again why he is one of Florida's leading Democrats.2010 Legislature: More of the Stuff That Doesn't Work By Ray Seaman Progress Florida 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. Florida leads the nation in international migration We get so weary of the constant parade of depressing environmental news stories.
So it is gratifying to see the Daytona Beach News Journal's veteran and caring environmental reporter, Dinah Voyles Pulver, actually follow up today on a great environmental sucees in Northeast Florida. Smart and forward-thinking conservationists have been planning and working for a wildlife corridor for years. The idea is to make sure that, as Florida grows, there's still room for wild things. As Pulver points out in the article below, the patience, vision, and hard work of conservationists -- both in and out of the government -- is finally paying off. Enjoy! Daytona Beach News Journal January 05, 2010 Talks in works to protect more corridor land By DINAH VOYLES PULVER Environment Writer When two local officials proposed preserving a wildlife corridor through the center of Volusia and Flagler counties in 1998, it seemed to some an impossible dream. Twelve years later, nearly two-thirds of the corridor is protected. A key piece was acquired by the St. Johns River Water Management District late last month and negotiations are under way for acquisition of another crucial parcel. Reid Hughes, a former water district governing board member, and the agency's director of land acquisition, Robert Christiansen, proposed the corridor. They envisioned a long ribbon of undeveloped land linking public property in South and Central Florida to the Ocala National Forest and other public lands to the north. Not only would it preserve a swath of relatively undisturbed habitat for large animals such as Florida black bears and panthers, but scientists said such corridors also would improve the genetic health of smaller animals and plants. The corridor also would help protect the region's water resources. Working in concert, the district and Volusia County acquired more than 48,000 acres of the planned 79,000-acre corridor. "I don't think anybody thought we'd be as successful as we've been," said Volusia County Councilwoman Pat Northey. The Volusia Forever land acquisition program, approved by county voters in 2000, helped move the corridor project forward. Officials bought some land outright and purchased development rights to other parcels, eventually securing more than 33,000 acres in Volusia and 15,000 acres in Flagler County. Northey said partnerships between the district and the county and other state and federal agencies have been critical to the significant progress made in protecting the "wild heart of Volusia County." At the height of the construction and land value boom, officials feared they might never link all the properties. An Orlando developer had acquired 3,321 acres in Osteen and a South Florida developer put the 4,700-acre Leffler Ranch under contract. Then land values plummeted, creating new opportunities. In December, the district spent $20 million to buy the 3,321-acre Carter Maytown property in Osteen, adding a key link on the corridor's southern end. Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno said the land sold for about half the original asking price. Now the county is negotiating with the Lefflers to buy the family's Osteen ranch. "We're real close," Bruno said. However, if the family and the county reach agreement, the purchase likely will use up much of the county's available land-buying money for the next year or so. The County Council recently voted not to add any other potential acquisitions to its priority list for a year. "We're not out of business, but we have to strategize what's really important to acquire," Northey said. "We'll have to evaluate how we get the rest of it." A decision by state legislators not to put any money into the state land-buying program, Florida Forever, also leaves the district and other agencies short on funds, said Ray Bunton, a land acquisition specialist for the district. But district officials have learned to be patient and wait for opportunities. "We've waited as long as 20 years to complete some projects," Bunton said. After Leffler, the largest remaining missing piece of the corridor is a 4,583-acre property known as Kemcho, along the south side of State Road 44. The county hopes one day to acquire the land, owned by an Orlando investor, but officials say the asking price is too high. If the agencies find a way to buy Kemcho, Bruno said, "that would pretty well wrap up the conservation corridor." A few smaller properties, less than 2,000 acres each, remain on the district's potential acquisition list in Volusia and Flagler counties. From early Spring of 2009 right through to the last days of the year, Florida's Attorney General and Republican candidate for governor, Bill McCollum, has been nothing - and I do mean nothing - if not consistent in peddling his self-serving, short-sighted, downright deceitful brand of politics. (Bill Mccollum pushing edge of the envelope of political distortion) Back in March, as he was preparing to abandon his current job and make a run for Governor, the state's leading law enforcement official doled out almost one-and-a-half million of our tax dollars to a former consultant-crony, to produce “public service” ads warning about online sexual predators - ads starring Bill McCollum as the heroic supposed protector of Florida's vulnerable children and endangered teens. Forget about the ethical questions surrounding awarding of the contract itself. Forget about the fact that the ads were shameless self-promotion (including a $550 taxpayer tab for his makeup!). Forget about the fact that the actual severity of the problem of online sexual predators was so exaggerated by McCollum in the ad and in related publicity efforts. Well, don't really forget any of that, not when election time rolls around. Rather, keep it in mind, then put it all aside for a moment and ask yourself: What kind of politician - what kind of a man - would claim to be fighting to protect the health and well-being of our children in the Spring, only to spend much of this Autumn and Winter trying to derail health reform efforts, efforts that would for the first time give hundreds of thousands of Florida's uninsured, at-risk children the kind of health care coverage and care they should have had all along? In September, McCollum joined the Republican drumbeat of deceit and disinformation about health reform, attacking the public option plan still on the table, lying about the importance and potential impact of medical malpractice reform on health care costs, and claiming his answer to health reform as governor would be creation of an advisory council. In October, we had to suffer through the following divisive, borderline Joe McCarthy-esque attack by McCollum on health reform, cloaked even more dishonorably in a personal attack on his Democratic rival in the governor's race, Florida's Chief Financial officer, Alex Sink: "Sink is siding with the unions and their bosses – they know where she stands. On government-run health care Sink is with the left wing unions.". Not long after that, McCollum went after health reform and Sink some more, challenging the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who was attending a health care town hall in Florida, to call out his competitor Sink on her health reform positions. But McCollum has saved his personal best of the worst for these last days of the year. This do-nothing Attorney General - the guy who has been in power, yet seemingly powerless during this infamous period of Florida political corruption and legislative lawlessness, during this period when so many Floridians have been bilked and duped and disowned by insurance companies and mortgage lenders and banks - this week, this servant of only the rich and powerful has announced that he is directing his staff to explore whether they can file a lawsuit declaring any new health reform bill that gets passed by the U.S. Congress as unconstitutional. The McCollum cover story this time, the pretext for killing health reform, is that there ought not to be any requirement that uninsured people have to get health insurance. It would be like a tax - Boo! - and just unfair, doggone it. Forget that these uninsured, at-risk people, if they have difficulty affording insurance, would get subsidized under a new reform bill. Forget that without such a mandate, all of us taxpayers will end up paying for their health care, at the most expensive levels, when they finally show up at emergency rooms seeking medical attention. Forget that such a mandate, even as part of this very imperfect health reform bill now being finalized, will still help to quickly, finally provide proper health care access and coverage for nearly 800,000 uninsured children in Florida - the children McCollum claimed to be looking out for way back in...the Spring. Forget that as Attorney General, Wild Bill is defending the state in efforts to maintain Medicaid reimbursement levels that are so low that poor, uninsured children can't find doctors who will treat them. Forget that McCollum's extremist anti-government, anti-entitlement views were in evidence during his years in the U.S. Congress, when he voted time and again to cut Medicare and Social Security. Forget that McCollum's extremist anti-government, anti-entitlement views not only pander shamelessly to, but in fact prey on some people's fear and ignorance, cultivating selfishness and inhumanity, rather than selflessness and humanity. NO. Do not forget any of the above, not when election time rolls around. Keep it all uppermost in your mind, in fact, as you listen to and watch McCollum peddling his politics of hypocrisy and heartlessness, divisiveness and duplicity, throughout this 2010 gubernatorial campaign. He will cloak it all the while in the guise of being some kind of moderate conservative who's trying to keep big government out of your life. He will be lying to and trying to deceive and distract you. The facts are the facts. The record is the record. You can look it up. Ask yourself. What kind of politician - what kind of human being - do you want as Florida's next governor? Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for week ending 12-18-09 Pensacola: "Don't Go Near the Water" By Tobias Progress Florida By a vote of 4 to 3, the Hillsborough County Commission today failed to extend non-discrimination protections to their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees. With unemployment still sky high; with For Sale signs and foreclosure notices as common on front lawns as Christmas decorations; with local youth shipping off to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and with health reform now an ugly mess, why should Floridians care about the United Nations Climate Talks in Copenhagen? Read More » Hillsborough County Commission Fails to Provide for the Safety of LGBT Employees
(TAMPA) By a vote of 4 to 3, the Hillsborough County Commission today failed to extend non-discrimination protections to their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees. The proposed change would have modified the internal personnel policy, not amend to the county Human Rights Ordinance. “Today’s vote is a step away from progress but we are committed to continuing our work so that all employees in Hillsborough County are protected from discrimination and harassment, including gay and transgender employees,” said Nadine Smith, executive director for Equality Florida. In the wake of today's vote, Equality Florida is asking local elected officials to take a personal pledge that reads: Read More » 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/. 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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