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Floridians look for leverage in energy bill

By WES ALLISON
Published July 28, 2005

WASHINGTON - Florida lawmakers upset with a provision in the energy bill that would allow gas and oil exploration off the state's coast are hoping to leverage their votes in return for assurances of more long-term protections.

With a vote on the energy bill expected in the U.S. House tonight, a dozen Florida Republicans met Wednesday with Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., chairman of the House Resources Committee.

The Floridians expressed concerns about the energy bill and their desire to keep Florida's coasts free from oil and gas rigs far into the future. Several said Barton seemed supportive, which could make it easier for more of the state's 19 Republican House members to vote for the bill tonight.

"It might be too late for this bill, but we're working on assurances," said Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Crystal River.

The bill, which is expected to pass both houses of Congress by week's end, preserves the moratorium on drilling off Florida's shores.

But it does include a comprehensive inventory of gas and oil reserves in all U.S. waters, including Florida's. Many Florida lawmakers and environmental activists say that could be a first step to drilling after the moratoriums protecting the eastern gulf begin expiring in 2007.

The energy bill is a priority for President Bush and the House Republican leaders, who are under pressure to address rising gas and oil prices. It is expected to pass, but it may be close.

"We have clout in numbers," said Rep. Clay Shaw, R-Fort Lauderdale, who said he hoped the delegation would stick together. "The delegation is sensitive to each other's needs. We're also sensitive to what the president wants."

Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, said he and Rep. Mike Bilirakis, R-Tarpon Springs, were working Wednesday on a proposal that would codify the moratorium and institute other safeguards.

The first federal moratorium, which protects a swath of the Gulf of Mexico off Pensacola, expires in 2007, and the rest expire by 2012. Meanwhile, the East Coast and the waters off the Florida Keys have very limited protection. "We're trying to come up with protections that we can get Pombo and Barton and (Gov. Jeb Bush) and the senators to agree on, so every time something like this comes up it won't affect Florida," Stearns said. "We don't want to go through this every year or two."

Most Florida Democrats are expected to vote against the bill, which includes more than $14-billion in subsidies, mostly to the oil and gas industry. They also say it does too little to encourage alternative energy and conservation.

Florida's two senators, Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Mel Martinez, say they plan to vote against the bill because of the inventory, although the bill is expected to pass when it reaches the Senate by Friday.

Stearns and Bilirakis represented Florida on the committee that reconciled the differences between the House and Senate versions of the energy bill, and they unsuccessfully tried to kill the inventory early Tuesday.

It cannot be cut now. But Barton, the bill's sponsor in the House, has agreed to allow Stearns to express the Floridians' concerns during debate tonight. He will also outline hopes for an agreement.

Although the Floridians were still discussing specifics, and any deal would require widespread support in the House, Senate and Bush administration, the talks were focusing on three points:

Creating a permanent buffer of at least 100 miles around Florida's coast, from Jacksonville to Pensacola, which Gov. Bush long has favored.

Ending White House-led efforts to redraw state boundaries in the eastern gulf, which would give waters now protected under Florida's deal with the federal government to Louisiana or Alabama.

Allowing Florida to opt out of the new inventory provision.

"We're trying to make a big win out of it, to protect Florida's shores," said Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo.

[Last modified July 28, 2005, 01:10:15]