Dear Friends, It is absolutely essential that we act now to protect our environment and economy and slow down the runaway campaign to drill off of Florida’s coast. Our current system fails Florida because critical decisions are too often made by lobbyists and politicians without the public’s input or knowledge. This system must end, and I have the plan to end it.

Earlier this week, State Senator Dave Aronberg and I introduced legislation that that will deliver genuine accountability to our system in order to prevent the irresponsible efforts to immediately drill off of our pristine coasts.

Proponents of off-shore drilling are making every attempt to relax the off-shore oil drilling ban in the waning days of Governor Crist’s term of office. The lack of independent evaluation of such a change is simply unacceptable. The potential negative ramifications to new off-shore drilling include damage to our environment, tourism industry, and our fragile economy in general.

Through this new legislation, Senator Aronberg and I will ensure the public gets a larger voice in these critical decisions. To get the information we believe is required to make an informed decision – our bill would create the “Florida Energy Independence and Coastal Protection Task Force” – and require the legislature to do its due diligence before a bill is passed.

This group would be dedicated to studying and reporting on the economic and environmental impacts of – and alternatives to – lifting the ban on oil drilling in Florida waters. The Task Force will consist of nine non-governmental members appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House and the House and Senate Minority Leaders. There will also be several ex-officio designees from relevant governmental agencies.

Through the task force, public hearings would be held throughout the state, and a technical advisory committee would convene to provide independent analysis of the issue as part of a Final Report provided to the public by December 15, 2010.

Should Governor Crist include off-shore drilling as part of the agenda for any special session, I will do everything in my power to enact our proposal into law during the special session.

Florida’s future shouldn’t be needlessly endangered by making rash and potentially irresponsible policy decisions. Any decisions of this magnitude should be able to withstand scrutiny and independent evaluation.

To read the bill we are proposing, access this website: http://www.tedforflorida.com/images/oiltaskforce.pdf

More soon. Thanks always for your kind support.

Ted

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