With the House of Representatives having passed a permanent ban on offshore oil drilling, it remains to be seen what the U.S. Senate does with the measure, and whether President Donald Trump decides to veto it, or not.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R), a Trump ally and former congressman who opposes drilling off the coast of Florida, spoke to reporters about the passage of the bill during a Hurricane Dorian relief event in Dania Beach, Florida, saying that the president understood how Florida was “just a different state” from the rest.
“We should have the ban around Florida, for sure,” stated DeSantis “I’ve urged him (Trump) to make sure that Florida is protected from that. You see it with everybody here, we’re just a different state in terms of how we are situated. He understands that, and every indication (sic) I have had with him is that he will support having Florida taken care of in that respect.”
DeSantis also said that the president also “understands the direction our state goes, what our lifeblood is,” adding that President Trump told him “he’s with us.”
“I’ve not had any concerns, any time talking to him that somehow they would try to do anything with respect to oil drilling in Florida,” added DeSantis “Florida, he’s told me he’s with us. We don’t want the oil drilling.”
DeSantis' former colleague in the House, Rep. Francis Rooney (R) sponsored the permanent ban on oil drilling off Florida's coast, saying that it was up to Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, both Republicans, to act in the Senate.
According to the chamber's vice president of Public Affairs, Edie Ousley, "the current moratorium ending in 2022 is a threat to Florida."
