Sen. Nelson pushes to extend Florida drilling ban

[d_legendary1]

Florida Senator Bill Nelson is fighting renewed efforts to expand oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Nelson has filed legislation to extend the moratorium on drilling off the Florida coast to 2027.

"Florida is under siege," Nelson said. "At some point, folks need to ignore Big Oil's greed and simply do what's right."

Nelson said current legislation to open the eastern Gulf to exploration could allow drilling within 50 miles of Florida's coast. Louisiana U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy is leading a push from federal lawmakers in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana to remove protections from fuel exploration off the Florida coastline in the interest of job creation.

The current moratorium protects waters within 125 miles of Florida.

Florida political leaders from both parties have historically resisted efforts to expand drilling. Nelson and others have cited military training exercises in the eastern Gulf of Mexico that could be disrupted, as well as the risk of spills that could damage Florida's tourism industry.

Nelson and other supporters of the Florida moratorium say the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster demonstrates the danger of expanded exploration and drilling near Florida.

Senator Marco Rubio said he supports responsible expansion of domestic energy production, but said he has not reviewed the specific legislation


http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/29189640/sen-nelson-files-bill-to-extend-florida-drilling-ban


Hey Bobby Jindal mind ya business you jerk!