Apparently nobody in government believes that Flordia's coveted tourism industry is threatened by the price of fuel?
People who have the visual acuity to see an oil rig 45 miles off the Coast (esp. from Orlando) would be horribly offended, and might even sue. We can't let the evil SUV drivers offend them.
Nope. Not with both Martinez and Nelson voting consistently against allowing any off-shore drilling, not only of LF coast but anywhere. Meanwhile, Canada is drilling like crazy of New Foundland's coast. And now Cuba will be doing it off FL coast, too!
And how does the gazillion platforms outside of New Orleans hamper tourism and the shrimp industry there?
Too many riggers taken up all the barstools?
Considering Florida is a peninsula, it is impossible to drive the most direct routes to points of interest in Florida from many parts of the US. Lots of tourists arrive by air. They have quite a bit to lose if prices go higher.
Or examined how it is that the very sight of an offshore rig would imperil Florida's coveted tourist industry in any way...
Other than Alcee Hastings, that is.