Gov. Bush urges Gulf drilling buffer zone

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Oct. 07, 2005

Gov. Bush urges Gulf drilling buffer zone

With new talk of oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, critics worry that Gov. Jeb Bush is not as fiercely opposed as before.

BY LESLEY CLARK AND MARC CAPUTO
[e-mail]

TALLAHASSEE - Four years ago, Gov. Jeb Bush was a leading force behind efforts to protect the Florida coastline from oil and gas exploration -- ''going to the mat,'' environmentalists said, to persuade his brother's administration to abandon plans to open far-away waters to oil and gas drilling.

Bush didn't get the all-out ban he advocated, but he did wrangle an agreement that, in his words, assured no new drilling off the Florida coast ``under my watch.''

But now, with his second term expiring next year, even the governor's supporters are puzzled by what they say is a retreat on his part: a willingness to accept drilling closer to Florida.

Instead of looking to block drilling in the entire eastern Gulf of Mexico -- as much of the state's congressional delegation favors -- Bush says his focus is to establish a no-drill buffer of at least 100 miles around the state. Bush says a permanent buffer would be ''excellent long-term protection'' -- compared to a patchwork of moratoriums that protect state waters now, but will begin to expire in 2007.

But critics say the buffer idea plays into the hands of an oil and gas industry that covets a foothold near Florida and will look to drop rigs just beyond the line, posing a threat to beaches and Florida tourism.
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/12839675.htm

[SteppingRazor]

1. WHAT?! You mean Jeb isn't as fiercely opposed to Gulf drilling...

now that he's a lame duck and doesn't have to face any political repercussions?

Why, I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you! :sarcasm: