Note that House leaders still plan on blocking the vote. It is imperative that we generate thousands of calls to House members and get out to their offices on Monday to deliver a strong message that they must let the voters decide this issue.<\/p>\n
– Frank Jackalone, Sierra Club frank.jackalone@sierraclub.org<\/p>\n
July 16, 2010<\/p>\n
By Mary Ellen Klas, Lee Logan, Steve Bousquet and Cristina Silva, Times\/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
\nNext week’s special session may test Republican leaders’ brawn.
\nTALLAHASSEE – Fearing a major victory for Gov. Charlie Crist, Florida Republican leaders are prepared to take drastic action – even blocking a historic vote on a constitutional amendment banning offshore oil drilling.
\nLegislators are expected to reluctantly convene a special session next week called by the governor, then swiftly reject a plan that would attract his supporters to the polls.
\nA survey of House Republicans shows the party’s caucus is so deeply divided over the amendment that leaders fear it would be difficult for Republicans to stand up to Crist and vote against bringing the issue to the voters.
\nAt least 14 Republicans and one Democrat who supported legislation in 2009 to open Florida waters to oil drilling now support asking voters to decide on a ban, according to a survey of legislators by the St. Petersburg Times and the Miami Herald.
\nCombined with 43 Democrats who are expected to support the constitutional amendment, there are at least 58 solid votes in support. Another eight Republicans, most of them in coastal districts, declined to state a position and 23 Republicans could not be reached.
\n”If we vote on it, I believe it will pass,” said Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, a Miami Republican and majority whip, who last year supported a plan to open Florida waters from three to 10 miles off shore to oil and gas drilling.
\nHe said that if he were voting on the constitutional ban, he would be ”leaning yes,” but instead is angered that the governor called the session ”for selfish reasons.”
\nLegislators need 72 votes in the House and 24 votes in the Senate to put the amendment on the November ballot, but rather than take up the governor’s proposal and soundly defeat it, the House is expected to convene and adjourn without taking a vote.
\nRep. Sandy Adams, R-Oviedo, wants them to at least vote on her bill to chastise Crist for wasting taxpayer money by calling for what she considers an unneeded session.
\nRep. John Tobia, R-Satellite Beach, echoed the comments of many Republicans about Crist’s proposal, calling it ”nothing more than a political stunt.”
\nEven legislators who support the ban are critical of Crist for failing to use the session to address more immediate needs, such as passing legislation to give economic relief to businesses and families in northwest Florida.
\nRep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, said that while she supports putting the amendment on the ballot ”you have to question the governor’s motives.”
\nRep. Marcelo Llorente, R-Miami, said that while he would like to vote to put the amendment on the ballot, taxpayer money could have been better spent to ”address all those issues while we are up there.”
\nTuesday’s no-vote would mark a new low in the steadily deteriorating relationship between the former Republican governor and GOP lawmakers.
\nSince Crist abandoned the Republican Party in April and announced he is running for U.S. Senate as a non-party candidate against former House Speaker Marco Rubio, a Republican, and Democrats Kendrick Meek and Jeff Greene, he has hinted he would call a special session in time to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot by the Aug. 4 deadline.
\nBut the sharply partisan House leadership stonewalled the governor, even refusing to answer his phone calls. Meanwhile, Senate leaders suggested they were open to a special session, especially one that would also provide economic relief to regions crippled by the oil disaster.
\nCrist instead scheduled the four-day session to deal with the constitutional amendment alone, saying there was no urgency to the economic issues.
\n”For them to put their animosity toward me above the will and what’s right for the people of this state would be stunningly shortsighted,” Crist told theTimes\/Herald.
\nDemocrats also believe Republicans are out to punish Crist and prevent him from using the issue to drive supporters to the polls. ”It’s a bunch of kids that want to take their ball and go home,” said Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando.
\nSome legislators oppose using the Constitution to impose a ban, while others say it is wrong to preclude future generations – especially since there are the known deep natural gas reserves along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
\n”Safe offshore oil drilling ought not to be prohibited in our Constitution,” said Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who is also chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.
\nHe acknowledged that the party has conducted a poll on the issue but the decision to not take a vote on the proposed amendment was not intended to offset popular support for a ban, but to give voters more time to determine the causes and consequences of the oil spill before amending the Constitution.
\n”Why rush into approving a constitutional amendment when we already have a statute that bans oil drilling,” he said.
\nOther lawmakers lament the bitterness the issue has spawned.
\n”There’s not going to be any winners out of this special session,” warned Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Jacksonville. ”We’ll all be looked upon as wasting the taxpayers’ money and time because we don’t have our act together.”
\nRep. Clay Ford, a Gulf Breeze Republican agreed. By not allowing voters a voice on the oil ban, ”It may intensify the anti-incumbent feeling already out there,” he said. ”It’s sort of a calculated risk. I don’t think it’s worth taking that risk. Most of us are up for re-election.”
\nMary Ellen Klas can be reached at meklas@MiamiHerald.com<\/p>\n
Here’s how House Republicans contacted by the Times\/Herald said they plan to vote on the proposed constitutional ban on oil drilling if it comes before them. Nearly all 44 House Democrats are expected to support the proposal.<\/p>\n
Yes:
\nRep. Marti Coley, Marianna
\nRep. Faye Culp, Tampa
\nRep. Greg Evers, Baker
\nRep. Anitere Flores, Miami
\nRep. Clay Ford, Gulf Breeze
\nRep. Jim Frishe, St. Petersburg
\nRep. Ed Homan, Tampa
\nRep. Marcelo Llorente, Miami
\nRep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Miami
\nRep. Peter Nehr, Tarpon Springs
\nRep. Jimmy Patronis, Panama City
\nRep. J.C. Planas, Miami
\nRep. Ron Schultz, Homosassa
\nRep. Juan Zapata, Miami<\/p>\n
No:
\nRep. Sandy Adams, Oviedo
\nRep. Dean Cannon, Winter Park
\nRep. Larry Cretul, Ocala
\nRep. Steve Crisafulli, Merritt Island
\nRep. Chris Dorworth, Lake Mary
\nRep. Rich Glorioso, Plant City
\nRep. Eddy Gonzalez, Hialeah
\nRep. Denise Grimsley, Lake Placid
\nRep. Alan Hays, Umatilla
\nRep. Ed Hooper, Clearwater
\nRep. Mike Horner, Kissimmee
\nRep. Mike Hudson, Naples
\nRep. Kurt Kelly, Ocala
\nRep. Paige Kreegel, Punta Gorda
\nRep. Debbie Mayfield, Vero Beach
\nRep. Seth McKeel, Lakeland
\nRep. Dave Murzin, Pensacola
\nRep. Pat Patterson, DeLand
\nRep. Scott Plakon, Longwood
\nRep. Ralph Poppell, Vero Beach
\nRep. Ron Renuart, Ponte Verda Beach
\nRep. Julio Robaina, Miami
\nRep. Matt Gaetz, Fort Walton Beach
\nRep. Will Snyder, Stuart
\nRep. John Tobia, Satellite Beach
\nRep. Will Weatherford, Wesley Chapel
\nRep. Mike Weinstein, Jacksonville
\nRep. Rich Workman, Melbourne<\/p>\n
Declined to answer\/unsure:
\nRep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, Fort Lauderdale
\nRep. Adam Hasner, Delray Beach
\nRep. Doug Holder, Sarasota
\nRep. John Legg, Port Richey
\nRep. Marlene O’Toole, Lady Lake
\nRep. David Rivera, Miami
\nRep. Rob Schenck, Spring Hill
\nRep. Kelli Stargel, Lakeland<\/p>\n
Could not be reached:
\nRep. Janet Adkins, Fernandina Beach
\nRep. Kevin Ambler, Tampa
\nRep. Tom Anderson, Dunedin
\nRep. Gary Aubuchon, Cape Coral
\nRep. Steve Bovo, Hialeah
\nRep. Jennifer Caroll, Fleming Island
\nRep. Carl Domino, Jupiter
\nRep. Brad Drake, Eucheeanna
\nRep. Eric Eisnaugle, Orlando
\nRep. Erik Fresen, Miami
\nRep. Tom Grady, Naples
\nRep. Dorothy Hukill, Port Orange
\nRep. Charles McBurney, Jacksonville
\nRep. Bryan Nelson, Apopka
\nRep. Steve Precourt, Orlando
\nRep. Bill Proctor, St. Augustine
\nRep. Lake Ray, Jacksonville
\nRep. Ron Reagan, Bradenton
\nRep. Ken Roberson, Port Charlotte
\nRep. Nick Thompson, Fort Myers
\nRep. Charles Van Zant, Keystone Heights
\nRep. Trudi Williams, Fort Myers
\nRep. John Wood, Winter Haven<\/p>\n
Yes only if it is temporary ban
\nRep. Baxter Troutman, Winter Haven<\/p>\n
Special thanks to Richard Charter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Note that House leaders still plan on blocking the vote. It is imperative that we generate thousands of calls to House members and get out to their offices on Monday to deliver a strong message that they must let the voters decide this issue. – Frank Jackalone, Sierra Club frank.jackalone@sierraclub.org July 16, 2010 By Mary … Continue reading Times\/Herald: House may have votes to put an amendment on ballot banning oil drilling. Contact your rep on Monday!<\/span>