Jun 26, 2006
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- If the House passes an offshore drilling bill that has split Florida's congressional delegation, Sen. Bill Nelson said Monday that he would filibuster the measure in an effort to block it in the Senate.
A House vote is expected this week on the bill that would end a 25-year ban on drilling off much of the nation's coastline and could bring rigs as close as 50 miles from Florida's beaches. It would, however, allow states to bring drilling closer than 50 miles or extend the buffer to 100 miles out.
Rising fuel prices have increased support for drilling in environmentally sensitive areas, and the bill last week cleared the House Resources Committee 29-9 with bipartisan support.
"Some of the pro-oil boys may well try to bring the House bill directly to the floor of the Senate," Nelson said in a telephone interview. "If that's the case, then we'll have to filibuster the bill."
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_OFFSHORE_DRILLING_FLOL-?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULTGlad it's an election year, otherwise Nelson probably wouldn't be so willing to take such a risk.
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