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Tampa Bay Area House Members Unite Against Drilling Bill

Posted Jun 27, 2007 by Billy House, Tribune Washington Bureau

Updated Jun 27, 2007 at 05:50 PM

WASHINGTON – Tampa Bay area members of the U.S. House united to help defeat efforts to open up natural gas and oil exploration off the nation’s coastlines, including Florida’s, in votes Wednesday.

But their sponsor, Pennsylvania Republican Rep. John Peterson, will keep trying.

Peterson offered two energy exploration amendments to an Interior Department spending bill, both defeated Tuesday night. One would have permitted oil and gas exploration and production starting 100 miles offshore, It lost on a voice vote.

The other, allowing gas exploration and production starting 25 miles offshore, died on a 196-233 vote. Democrat Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa joined GOP colleagues Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville, Adam Putnam of Bartow, Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor, and Bill Young of Largo in voting no.

Republican Reps. John Mica of Winter Park and Dave Weldon of Palm Bay were the only Floridians who voted in favor; Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami did not vote.

“It was great to see members of Florida’s Congressional delegation, Republicans and Democrats, actively opposing these drilling amendments,” said Environment Florida Director Mark Ferrulo.

But Peterson said Wednesday the 196-233 vote means his gas-only amendment as “within striking distance of passage,” and aides said they could come up again before the August break in connection with the House version of the energy bill.

“We’re going to scratch and claw and do anything we have to get these amendments on the floor,” said the aide, Travis Windle.