District 15 candidates strike different views on lifting offshore oil ban
Friday, July 18, 2008
District 15 candidates strike different views on lifting offshore oil ban
By Jim Turner
Originally published 08:00 a.m., July 15, 2008
Updated 10:37 a.m., July 15, 2008
President Bush’s decision to lift a presidential ban on offshore drilling has received mixed reviews from those who want to join the legislative body that must rescind its own prohibition before any drilling could begin off Florida coast.
The three Republican candidates for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, state Sen. Bill Posey, Kevin Lehoullier and Allen Bergman, along with independent Frank Zilaitis favor the president’s action.
Meanwhile, other District 15 candidates, Democrats Stephen Blythe and Paul Rancatore and independent Trevor Lowing, said they didn’t think even if Congress lifted its own ban — enacted in 1981, nine year’ before the presidential ban was ordered — that there will be any noticeable long-term benefit to the nation’s energy needs.
• Posey, R-Rockledge, urged Congress to follow the president’s lead.
“I worked on the Apollo program when a president with great vision said our nation could put a man on the moon and safely bring him home in under a decade — and that was using 1960s technology — and we did it. Don’t tell me we can’t get to work and start showing progress for Americans in short order,” Posey said. “Had this been done five or 10 years ago, we wouldn’t be in this crisis. While new energy technologies must continue to be developed, we remain heavily reliant on oil, not just for our cars, but for the thousands of other products made from petroleum. Drilling in (the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) and off the coasts will help America become more energy independent from our enemies while providing relief at the pump. “
• Lehoullier, a Fellsmere resident who is an executive with a nationwide importer, was glad the president would put Congress’ “feet to the fire” by arguing that allowing drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and off the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines would ease pressure on oil prices by increasing domestic production.
“I don’t expect them to do much the remainder of the session, but I’d like to see them do it,” Lehoullier said.
• Bergman, a businessman from Indialantic, said if the ban is fully lifted, oil companies should be encouraged to first drill in northern Alaska where reserves are known to exist. And before drilling for oil off Florida, they should tap for natural gas, he said.
“I agree with the president’s decision,” Bergman said. “But we’re not big on upsetting the environment in this area unless it is absolutely necessary.”
• Zilaitis, a former assistant state attorney, said as a congressman he would vote to end the ban but hoped that it would be lifted before the start of 2009.
“As a constitutionalist, I don’t see where the federal government had the authority to put the ban in place anyway,” Zilaitis said.
• Lowing, a resident of Satellite Beach who has worked in the local defense, space and technology industries, said the focus should be on increasing alternative energy sources, primarily nuclear energy.
“I think it’s a stopgap measure, it’s not necessarily a good decision,” Lowing said.
• Blythe, a Melbourne family physician, said that the nation should be focused on finding new ways to create its own energy. He added that oil companies should also be required to explore the 68 million acres of federal land that they currently lease.
“We’re not conserving, we’re not expanding our alternative energy,” Blythe said. “We need to get ourselves motivated. We’re going to run out of oil and we’re not doing anything.”
• Rancatore, a captain for American Airlines, said with the limit reserves in the area to be drilled the nation should be seeking alternative energy. Also, the potential to negatively impact Florida’s tourism industry and economy should be considered before lifting the Congressional ban.
“It’s unfortunate that the President is taking a bad situation and creating an even larger one,” Rancatore said.[
What other elected officials are saying:
• Sen. Bill Nelson said: “The president cruelly is misleading Americans for attempted political gain.”
• Sen. Mel Martinez said: “In light of the current energy crisis, Congress must take steps to develop domestic resources while encouraging conservation. I look forward to Congress acting to make it possible for states to engage in offshore development if they so choose, and respect the wishes of states like Florida that wish to keep drilling at a distance that doesn’t impact our environment, our economy, or the missions of the United States military.”
• Congressman Tim Mahoney, R-Palm Beach Gardens, said: “Drilling for oil off of Florida’s coast will do nothing to address our energy crisis. The Bush Administration’s own studies show that there would be no impact on the price of oil until 2030, and even then the impact would be insignificant. Unfortunately, it seems that President Bush is using Florida’s $65 billion tourism industry as a political football. My constituents want answers, not political posturing.”
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© 2008 Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
