Crist wants special session, amendment to ban offshore drilling
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/05/11/art.crist.0430f.gi.jpg caption="Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday he wants a special session of the state Legislature to put before voters a constitutional amendment that would bar oil drilling in state waters."]MIAMI, Florida (CNN) - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday he wants a special session of the state Legislature to put before voters a constitutional amendment that would bar oil drilling in state waters.
No oil exploration is currently under way off Florida, but top Republicans in the state House and Senate have called for the state to allow drilling in its coastal waters. And Crist, who once supported offshore drilling, said there was "no stronger place" to put that ban than in the state constitution.
"It's appropriate for the people to have the opportunity to make this call," Crist told reporters. A constitutional amendment would require 60 percent approval to pass, "which I think is appropriate, too," he said.
Crist, a Republican-turned-independent, is running for the U.S. Senate in November. He reversed his position on offshore drilling after the April sinking of an oil rig unleashed an undersea gusher in the Gulf of Mexico.
A special session could be held in late May or early June, the governor's office said.
- CNN's Rich Phillips contributed to this report.
Fine, we'll just keep paying Iran billions for their oil to keep their terrorist regime in place. Iran will never bomb America, we're their biggest cash pig. I hate giving money to those who wish to do me harm but we Americans want it both ways.
Banning offshore drilling, again, should happen! Look at the mess we are in, thanks to the de-regulations of the Republicans, who when they had a majority in Congress de-regulated the Oil drilling business creating the disaster that our nation is dealing with today!
Ditto to what Frank in Las Vegas said:
"Vote NO in NOvember for the Party of NO."
What a shame it took yet another massive oil spill for Florida to remember why we had the drilling moratorium in the first place!
As the wind blows, so goes Charlie.
And keep drilling. If you want to live in a risk free world, move to Care-a-Lot and hang with the Care Bears.
Stupid; no wonder he is out on his own. We need more drilling with more safety controlls for this country; need to get off overseas oil and yes off oil but we have to use oil until the alternatives are available.
Crist flip-flops on just about EVERY issue.
Glad he is leaving the governors mansion; and he will loose his battle to become senator.
Rubio will be the next US Senator from Florida.
Crist is such a despicable puke. He is the poster-child for the kind of politician that we don't need in office. He belongs in the democrat party. Do the right thing, Florida..........throw him out.
Hey, Charlie, you've got our full support on this issue; further, you've also got our full support on your campaign to become our next U.S. Senator from Florida.
Keep being honest with the people and the people with will come and vote for you, despite what the hypocritical Republican Party says. They simply are the party of corporate America and not the party of American patriots.
Good for the Governor. This is what happens when you are no longer tied down by party politics. You make a SANE decision.
Go for it Crist! Stop the "Drill, Baby, Drill" pathatic palin mentality! Sell their oil wells like they sold your protrait!
Too Late!!!!!
The worst is yet to come.
I think moment by moment of the whales and porpoises and turtles who are surfacing trying to get a breath of air and instead their lungs are frying.
Sure thing let's stop the drilling and let the Arabs have full control of the oil prices. Think you are having a problem now paying for gas................................... You Dems run with blinders on, look past the end of your nose for a change, we are no where close to being ready to get off of oil now and wont be for many years to come.
Untill then we have no choice but to drill, sad but true.
Crist is just trying to gain a vote or two by sucking up to the tree huggers.
Good for Crist.