MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. - Kendrick Meek released the following statement regarding today's news that the Justice Department plans to launch a civil and criminal investigation into the BP spill:
"Launching a civil and criminal investigation of BP's role in the Deepwater Horizon tragedy is the right thing to do. But, the fact that this investigation is even necessary should be a wake up call to those who gave Big Oil a free pass before the spill. The 'Drill, Baby, Drill' crowd told us we had nothing to fear and that we could 'drill here, drill now, safely and effectively.' They told us that drilling should be sped up and that regulations should be loosened. Here, in Florida, they wanted to drill just a few miles away from our beaches. Imagine if an oil rig malfunctioned 10 miles away from Florida beaches."
"We must do everything in our power to hold BP accountable for any actions that helped to cause or worsen this economic and environmental catastrophe, but we also must not forget the political leaders who laid the welcome mat for Big Oil just a few miles off of Florida beaches," said Kendrick Meek, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
Kendrick Meek is the only major candidate in the U.S. Senate race to consistently oppose drilling off of Florida's beaches both before and after the spill. Both of his Republican opponents were in favor of drilling off Florida's beaches. Governor Crist even stood with Sarah Palin as she told a cheering crowd in New Port Richey, "We will drill here, drill now safely and effectively" in 2008. Even in December, Crist told the Orlando Sentinel that he supported drilling off Florida beaches. You can watch Governor Crist and Palin campaign for oil drilling here (http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2010/05/flashback-charlie-drill-here-drill-now-crist.html) and Crist explain his support for drilling here (http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/orlando_opinionators/2010/05/the-governors-oil-flip-flop.html).
Posted By: Kendrick Meek
Tuesday, June 1st 2010 at 4:42PM
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