Posted: August 17, 2010

With the Deepwater Horizon oil well finally plugged, poll results released by the St. Peterbsurg Times show a drop in support for a ban on oil drilling in Florida waters. This was to be expected, but is no less frustrating. The article accurately noted that this shift in public opinion could “embolden” the Republican Leadership in the Florida Legislature. If past actions are any indication, I am certain it will.

Politicians, especially in Tallahassee, rely on the public’s short attention span in order to propose and pass bad bills without much consequence. They know that as events begin to fall off the front pages, they also begin moving to the back of everyone’s minds. I’ve witnessed this behavior by Florida Republicans over the past four years.

The truth is stopping the leak does not signal an end to this disaster. Oil and toxins are still present, harming wildlife, negatively impacting restaurants, hotels, and other businesses, and destroying the quality and way of life for so many individuals.

The full effect of this crisis may not be known for a generation or more, which is why I urge Floridians to not let their convictions and passion on this issue subside, for it’s only a matter of time before some of my colleagues again decide that oil drilling within eyesight is a good idea. It’s not.

We all agree that we must end our addiction to foreign oil. Doing so will have positive national security implications. However, we will not accomplish that goal by embracing fossil fuels in our own backyard. There simply isn’t enough oil near our shores to make a difference. Further, oil that is recovered does not necessarily remain in Florida or even in America. It belongs to ‘Big Oil’, like BP, and gets sold to the highest bidder on the open market.

If we’re serious about ending our addiction to foreign oil, strengthening our national security, getting people back to work, building a new economic engine, and doing something positive for future generations of Floridians, the Sunshine State can no longer remain the largest and most populated state in the country without a renewable portfolio standard.