Kendrick Meek on President Obama's Six-Month Ban on Drilling New Deepwater Oil Wells
MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. - Kendrick Meek, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, issued the following statement today after President Obama announced a six-month ban on drilling new deepwater oil wells:
"From the beginning, offshore drilling has posed significant threats to our environment and economy. Permitting drilling so close to our beaches is and always has been bad policy, plain and simple. The 'Drill, Baby, Drill' faction remains alive and well, and now Florida is paying the price for their desire to score short-term political points."
"President Obama's decision today appropriately builds off of my proposal with Senator Nelson to halt all new offshore drilling until the Administration investigates the cause of the disaster. This six-month ban, along with new oversight and safety standards for Big Oil, are a necessary step forward. Today, we must finally recognize that safe offshore drilling is nothing but an illusion. It gives us the false comfort of energy security while, in reality, endangering an entire region's environment and economy."
"From the beginning, offshore drilling has posed significant threats to our environment and economy. Permitting drilling so close to our beaches is and always has been bad policy, plain and simple. The 'Drill, Baby, Drill' faction remains alive and well, and now Florida is paying the price for their desire to score short-term political points."
"President Obama's decision today appropriately builds off of my proposal with Senator Nelson to halt all new offshore drilling until the Administration investigates the cause of the disaster. This six-month ban, along with new oversight and safety standards for Big Oil, are a necessary step forward. Today, we must finally recognize that safe offshore drilling is nothing but an illusion. It gives us the false comfort of energy security while, in reality, endangering an entire region's environment and economy."