PittsburghAfterDark
CAGiversary!
The international recognized limit on territorial waters is 12 miles. This is true all over the world. Rarely do countries not recognize it except in rare instances, like Quadaffi's fictitious "line of death" that Reagan walked over and sodomized.
So how can state or federal government play ANY role in deciding what goes on 23-150 miles away from American shores? If I'm not mistaken this has to be against every international statute of sea borne commerce and we're doing it to ourselves.
Gov. Bush reverses stance, now supports oil drilling rigs in eastern Gulf
By Tamara Lytle & John Kennedy
Staff Writers
Posted October 5 2005
Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday he supports federal legislation allowing drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, including areas where he aggressively fought energy exploration just four years ago.
Bush cited new political realities and protections he thinks he could win for the state in exchange.
Environmentalists, Democrats and Republican U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida staunchly oppose the bill, which would allow oil and gas drilling 125 miles from Florida-controlled waters.
They continue to insist that a strong political front in Florida can stop all new drilling in the eastern Gulf.
"Sure they do," Bush said, deriding their position. "But that's great. I've talked to the fairy godmother about it."
Not too long ago, the governor joined these same critics in opposing oil and gas drilling even beyond the 125-mile mark. In 2001, he strongly lobbied his brother, President Bush, to significantly scale back drilling in an energy-rich area called Lease Sale 181, which sits more than 200 miles west of Tampa.
"As a result, there will be no new drilling in the Lease Sale 181 Area off the coast of Florida under my watch," Gov. Bush proudly stated in a news release on July 6, 2001.
The current legislation that the governor is helping to shape would allow drilling in Lease Sale 181, which currently is off-limits to oil and gas exploration until 2007.
One portion of that area, called the stovepipe because of its shape, juts to within 23 miles of Pensacola. But drilling is prohibited in the region until 2012 as part of an earlier deal struck by Martinez and the Bush administration.
When asked about his previous position favoring a ban on a larger swath of the Gulf, Bush grew testy.
"I could sit on the sidelines and say I'm for it and that would be great. That's how politicians act," he said. "Or we could try to establish a long-term protection of our coastline, and I've opted to be engaged to try to protect Florida's coastline rather than be politically correct."
Legislation by Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., chairman of the House Resources Committee, would allow Florida and other states to forbid drilling in areas closer than the 125-mile limit. To induce them to allow drilling within that area, the federal government would offer states a share of billions of dollars in federal royalties for oil and gas leasing.
Excerpt: Link to Full Article
So how can state or federal government play ANY role in deciding what goes on 23-150 miles away from American shores? If I'm not mistaken this has to be against every international statute of sea borne commerce and we're doing it to ourselves.
Gov. Bush reverses stance, now supports oil drilling rigs in eastern Gulf
By Tamara Lytle & John Kennedy
Staff Writers
Posted October 5 2005
Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday he supports federal legislation allowing drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, including areas where he aggressively fought energy exploration just four years ago.
Bush cited new political realities and protections he thinks he could win for the state in exchange.
Environmentalists, Democrats and Republican U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida staunchly oppose the bill, which would allow oil and gas drilling 125 miles from Florida-controlled waters.
They continue to insist that a strong political front in Florida can stop all new drilling in the eastern Gulf.
"Sure they do," Bush said, deriding their position. "But that's great. I've talked to the fairy godmother about it."
Not too long ago, the governor joined these same critics in opposing oil and gas drilling even beyond the 125-mile mark. In 2001, he strongly lobbied his brother, President Bush, to significantly scale back drilling in an energy-rich area called Lease Sale 181, which sits more than 200 miles west of Tampa.
"As a result, there will be no new drilling in the Lease Sale 181 Area off the coast of Florida under my watch," Gov. Bush proudly stated in a news release on July 6, 2001.
The current legislation that the governor is helping to shape would allow drilling in Lease Sale 181, which currently is off-limits to oil and gas exploration until 2007.
One portion of that area, called the stovepipe because of its shape, juts to within 23 miles of Pensacola. But drilling is prohibited in the region until 2012 as part of an earlier deal struck by Martinez and the Bush administration.
When asked about his previous position favoring a ban on a larger swath of the Gulf, Bush grew testy.
"I could sit on the sidelines and say I'm for it and that would be great. That's how politicians act," he said. "Or we could try to establish a long-term protection of our coastline, and I've opted to be engaged to try to protect Florida's coastline rather than be politically correct."
Legislation by Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., chairman of the House Resources Committee, would allow Florida and other states to forbid drilling in areas closer than the 125-mile limit. To induce them to allow drilling within that area, the federal government would offer states a share of billions of dollars in federal royalties for oil and gas leasing.
Excerpt: Link to Full Article
