NorthWest Florida Republican

Governor Charlie Crist is trying to capitalize on the BP Oil Disaster by proposing an Amendment to the Florida Constitution to ban Oil Drilling in State Waters. This has angered some Republican Lawmakers in Florida.

But House Republicans, who remain angry over Crist’s decision to leave the Republican Party and his vetoes in the spring of major bills backed by GOP leaders, called Crist’s proposal a “self-serving political stunt” aimed at helping his U.S. Senate campaign.

Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Oviedo, said she was filing a resolution asking lawmakers to censure the governor for calling a costly special session to pass an amendment that replicates state law. – Hearld Tribune

And they should be upset. Along with everyone else. There is already a law on the books for Florida that bans drilling in State waters. Republicans have tried to repeal the law last year.

Democrats condemned the speaker’s apparent rejection of the amendment, noting the Republican-led House voted to repeal a law banning oil drilling near Florida’s shoreline last year, although the measure died in the Senate.

At least our State Senator, Don Gaetz, gets it.

After hearing four hours of testimony on spill concerns in Pensacola on Monday, Gaetz noted: “Not one single soul said the most important thing to do is pass a constitutional amendment banning what is already illegal.”

“I’m just very upset that the governor wants to deal with a political issue designed only to benefit him, when I represent 450,000 people who are worried about how they are going to get to the end of the month and how they are going to get through the next month because of this oil spill,” Gaetz said.

Just another political stunt by Charlie Crist to capitalize on current headlines and get more free exposure from the press.

There is one thing you can count on from Charlie Crist. He will say and do anything that helps him get elected.