Florida senator (Rubio) blocks Trump Interior nominee over offshore drilling

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

POLITICS DECEMBER 4, 2019 / 2:44 PM / A DAY AGO

Florida senator blocks Trump Interior nominee over offshore drilling

Valerie Volcovici
3 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio has placed a hold on the Senate confirmation of President Donald Trump’s pick to become the deputy secretary of the Interior Department over concerns about the agency’s plans to expand offshore drilling, his office said on Wednesday.

The move underscores opposition in most U.S. coastal states to a stalled Trump administration plan to open up nearly all U.S. offshore waters to drilling. Environmentalists and lawmakers of both parties have expressed concern that an oil spill could pose a risk to wildlife and beaches, hurting tourism and the fishing industries.

“When it comes to offshore drilling and exploration, the Florida delegation is united in opposition to allowing our shores to be subjected to new leases,” Rubio spokesman Nick Iacovella told Reuters by e-mail.

Rubio’s hold on Katharine MacGregor, who Trump nominated to take on the No. 2 position at Interior after Secretary David Bernhardt, will continue “until our office is able to discuss our concerns regarding offshore drilling with her directly,” Iacovella said.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-drilling-florida/florida-senator-blocks-trump-interior-nominee-over-offshore-drilling-idUSKBN1Y82N0

[Bayard]

1. You're kidding

He actually has some backbone?

[2naSalit]

2. That's a surprise.

[hatrack]

3. Well, the Florda Jellyfish did something right, for once . . .

Probably getting an earful from the real estate lobby, I'd imagine.