Submitted by Brandon Larrabee on July 8, 2010 - 1:52pm Death, Taxes & Politics
TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Charlie Crist is calling lawmakers back to the Capitol to consider a constitutional amendment banning oil drilling in state waters, he announced today.
Crist's call for a special session comes in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which is still gushing crude into the body of water after a rig blew in April. Oil has begun washing up on Gulf beaches and marshes, and officials have said it is likely the crude will reach the Florida Keys and possibly beyond.
Crist said the special session would be held July 20-23. Lawmakers will only deal with the drilling ban and not other spill-related proposals for now, Crist said, because the constitutional amendment is "time sensitive." The amendment has to be approved by Aug. 4 to be placed on the November ballot.
"I think it's important that we put this in our Constitution," said Crist. "Certainly, I think it's important we give the people of Florida the opportunity to make this call."
Crist batted away accusations that he is playing politics with the issue, given that state law already bans drilling in state waters.
"But I also know that just a year ago [lawmakers] tried to change that statute and drill holes three miles off the coast of Florida," Crist said.
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