Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (D) of Florida's 9th district wrote in the Tallahasse Democrat on the third about HB1219. This bill will allow drilling for oil off of the coast of Florida. Vasilinda said of the bill, "My amendments were the only attempt this session in the House to do anything toward truly clean and renewable energy." The Florida House Legislature, which is dominated by Republicans, were able to pass the bill with a vote of 70 to 43.
I worked the Florida session last year; the house and senate are dominated by Republicans, who are generally less concerned with the environment. I think Rep. Vasalinda has the right idea, since this bill passed, we need to make it a bill that lead us to a green Florida.
Lucas Parsons
POS 2001
M-F 9:00
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2 comments:
I agree that we need to be moving towards a green Florida, and green America for that matter, but I think these "amendments" to the bill are nothing more than a publicity stunt. These amendments are going to be no more than suggestions to spend money in these agencies that she lists. Its great that Mrs. Rehwinkel has these worldly ideas and suggestions, but the money that the oil companies are going to make off of the drilling here will greatly offset the costs of hiring top notch lobbyists to supress all of the efforts and the "significant dollars" that are going to be put into these green agencies. That being said, I'm no fan of drilling our home, but I'm even less of a fan of foreign oil dependence. Just my 2 cents....
Randall Grant
POS2001
12PM M-F
The amendments wouldn't have been suggestions as to where to spend the money, they would have required the money to be spent in certain ways. Oil drilling would be a completely separate issue than increased funding for certain programs.
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