Aikane Leo: Florida offshore drilling plan has Congressional support

Goodbye, Florida beaches, some of the world's most beautiful. Once the beaches and offshore waters are polluted, a possible consequence of gulf drilling, the Florida we love could cease to exist.

We all hope the worst case scenario never happens, but many members of the US Congress -- including several of Florida's own representatives -- are banking on hope while rolling the dice on the state's future.

Here's a photo of Caladesi Island, but this scene represents much of Florida's gulf coast.

Now imagine this scene following a major oil spill in gulf waters 25 miles from shore.

Just as 9/11 opened the doorway to Bush's domestic and foreign agenda, Katrina and Rita have blown open the door to another opportunity -- more drilling in gulf waters off Florida's coast.

In their push to move drilling even closer to the Florida coast, what can the Bush administration and Congressional Republicans be thinking? (Hint: the answer is in the question.) They are Republicans. All that matters is maintaining party unity and enriching their corporate sponsors.

A proposed energy measure would give Florida and other coastal states control over oil and gas drilling rights 125 miles from shore but would end state authority beyond that point.

Dan McLaughlin, spokesman for Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said the bill may seem to give control over a buffer zone but is actually full of loopholes that could be used to allow drilling as close as 25 miles from shore.

"This is basically marching forward with an agenda to hand over to the oil companies the Gulf of Mexico," McLaughlin said, "and they're doing it under cover of hurricanes."

An aide to the House Resources Committee named seven likely Republican supporters of the bill from Florida, but three others may also favor the idea. In the past, Florida lawmakers have nearly unanimously opposed any drilling east of the Alabama state line, so this legislation could be a breakthrough for drilling supporters.

The committee counts as likely supporters Reps. C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores, Ginny Brown-Waite of Crystal River, Adam Putnam of Bartow, Clay Shaw of Fort Lauderdale and Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Miami, all of whom have said they might be able to support a compromise along these lines. Rep. John Mica of Winter Park also has been sympathetic to the negotiations.