offshore drilling

Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) joined together in a bipartisan bill to permanently ban offshore drilling from Florida's coasts. The aptly named Florida Coastal Protection Act prevents the development of offshore oil and natural gas production in Florida waters, an issue on which both Democrats and […]

Yup, that’s right, oil drilling will begin this year off of Florida’s coast. Surprised? I’d imagine so. How could something like this happen? Haven’t we seen years of elected officials introducing and passing bills and resolutions to stop this travesty? How will Florida’s military training and tourism industries survive?

New levels of uncertainty stemming from the novel coronavirus have driven fresh policy agendas. These policy decisions can have serious implications on our state’s economic future and efforts to protect Florida’s environment. Lawmakers in Tallahassee and Washington can balance both objectives by stopping a ban on Florida’s offshore leasing operations, which drives economic activity and funds environmental conservation programs in...