Follow up: Directly from Bayfront 9
“Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday he is open to a proposal from state democratic lawmakers to push through a constitutional ban on offshore oil drilling.
Crist also used his clearest language yet regarding his stance on oil drilling.
“Let me be very clear about this, as far as oil drilling is concerned: Not now, no way, ” Crist said. “Whether it’s in the form of a constitutional amendment or a special session remains to be seen.”
The Governor withdrew his support for offshore drilling last week after flying over the oil spill and seeing the effects.
Democratic state lawmakers are pushing forward with a stiff stance on offshore oil drilling. Rep. Rick Kriseman (D) of St. Petersburg and Rep. Keith Fitzgerald (D) of Sarasota called for an end to oil drilling off the waters of Florida.
Fitzgerald said it’s time to “drive a stake through the bad idea, ending it once and for all.”
The two are joining Sen. Dan Gelber (D) and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink in asking Gov. Charlie Crist to approve a special legislative session on the oil spill.
Democrats are also pushing for a constititutional amendment that would go on the November ballot, to ban oil drilling and exploration in Florida waters and create a legislative mandate to develop a clean energy policy without oil or coal.”
Governor open to anti-drilling constitutional amendment
