We need to take action against oil drilling before too late

Reply to: see below
Date: 2008-06-21, 6:18PM EDT

Folks, We need every Floridians voice to stop this.

I just sent the email below to the Governor of our great state. I'm extremely concerned that political expediency is clouding the debate over an issue that is so important to Florida - keeping oil rigs off our shores. The bottom line is that no amount of drilling will reduce gas prices, and politicians shouldn't be giving people this false hope.

Please read my email and help me get the truth out about drilling by writing a letter to the editor of your local paper today.

Governor Crist,

You and I have worked together on many, many issues. While we don't always agree, I have always respected you for your willingness to engage an honest debate and avoid the rank partisanship that has defined our state for too long.

So it is in that spirit that I urge you to reconsider your support of Senator McCain and President Bush's position to lift the moratorium on drilling off the shores of Florida. Although I am confident that we will disagree on who to support for President, we both should be able to agree that Florida's pristine coastline should not become just another chit in presidential politics.

What is most distressing has been the argument that we should lift the ban because of the high cost of gasoline. It is simply not fair or accurate to suggest that allowing oil drilling off the Florida coast will do anything to alleviate the currently oppressive cost of fuel. In fact, the Bush administration issued a report saying exactly that just last year, and John McCain himself admitted as recently as three weeks ago that this would not help consumers at the pump.

I think your initial instincts on this were right and I urge you to retreat to your original position that protects our pristine coastlines.

You and I agree that we should not gamble with our state's economic future. So let's protect our coastlines by maintaining the moratorium on drilling off Florida's beaches.

Your friend,
Dan Gelber

I feel very strongly about this issue, as I'm sure you do. I want lower gas prices like everybody else, but misinformation and dangerous policies won't do anything to bring them down.

With our help, Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States, and he understands that if we're going to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we're going to have to get serious about investing in clean, renewable sources of energy - not destroying our beaches for a relatively minute amount of oil.

Don't let your friends and neighbors be fooled by this political ploy. Drilling won't reduce gas prices, and we ought not to even consider risking Florida's tourism-based economy.

Click here to use the Party's Letter-to-the-Editor tool to set the record straight today.

I'll let you know if I hear back from the Governor.

Sincerely,

Dan Gelber
Democratic Leader, Florida House of Representatives