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Ground shifts below the feet of drilling opponents

By HOWARD TROXLER
Published November 3, 2005

Here is how, until now, Florida has handled the question of more oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico:

We have been against it. Period.

Republicans. Democrats. Governors. Senators. I bet if anybody had asked Mickey and Goofy, they were against it too. Mermaids. Manatees. Everybody.

Until now.

For a long time now, Florida has always been able to find a way to block new drilling. We pulled our strings in Congress.

We used our clout with presidents who were desperate for Florida's votes. We nagged the Interior Department.

I am pretty sure that at one point, a certain member of Congress sold his soul to the devil to stop oil drilling. (As Beelzebulb found out to his regret, members of Congress cannot be bought, only rented.)

The point being, until now, taking a stand on oil drilling as a Florida politician has been safe and simple, and we have been able to get our way up in Washington.

But events might be turning against us.

Gasoline, you might have noticed, is expensive. Hurricane Katrina showed how vulnerable America's fuel supply is. The nation is in a grumpy mood.

Other states, like Louisiana, think Florida is being kind of selfish. They are grumbling that Florida is acting high and mighty for being one of the nation's biggest users of energy.

There is a push in Congress to open up more drilling. There's a big-shot guy in Congress from California who, when he is not busy gutting the Endangered Species Act, seems to be aiming for us.

As the existing patchwork of protections expires, from 2007 to 2010, we might not be able to get our way anymore.

So, Florida has a choice. Florida can continue to oppose all new drilling, period. We can say, drill over our dead body. That is a pure stand, for sure.

Or we could make a deal. Allow some drilling. Keep some protection.

For the first time, Florida's politicians are seriously divided. Some, like Gov. Jeb Bush, say the deal is worth considering. Others, Republican and Democrat alike, remain in the over-my-dead-body crowd.

Here is the deal. We would stay fully protected until 2012. After that, the existing protection around Florida, which now is roughly 200 to 285 miles offshore, would drop down to 125 miles at most.

You might ask: Is 125 miles enough? Heck, no. Not for a disaster. But neither is 200 miles, or 285. The stuff travels. In Florida's case, the science folks say, it probably would end up tarring the Keys and following the currents even over to our east coast. They think.

On the other hand, 125 miles is better than nothing. It keeps the things out of sight, at least, and gives us that much more breathing room.

Here is another scary thing about the deal: The Florida Legislature first has to ask for that 125 miles. It could even decide to ask for less.

I do not trust the Florida Legislature for doodly squat. The Florida Legislature would stuff nuclear waste into school lunches if you gave a big enough campaign contribution. Oil guys got money.

Some people who are opposed to drilling say that it is too early to make a deal.

After all, there's always another election coming around. Hillary or Condi or whoever is running for president in 2008 might be plenty willing to cater to Florida. Why do you think all those politicians like to suck up to corn farmers in Iowa?

Maybe we could use the old methods a little while longer. C.W. Bill Young, the wily and powerful member of Congress from Indian Shores, isn't retired just yet. Mel Martinez, who won a seat in the U.S. Senate for the Republicans, is against more drilling.

But if we lose, well, enjoy the view.

This is a grim choice. I do not think the governor and others who support the deal are flip-flopping, as the critics say. The governor is being realistic. A little testy, too. The other day, when somebody asked him why Florida shouldn't keep fighting for no new drilling whatsoever, he replied: "I'll talk to the fairy godmother about it."

While he's at it, he should ask her to fix it so we Floridians don't like gas-guzzling SUVs or air conditioning anymore, either. That might help our case a little.

[Last modified November 3, 2005, 01:05:05]