Gov. Crist calls special session over oil drilling

Governor Charlie Crist Thursday called a special session to discuss putting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot banning offshore drilling in Florida waters.

The session would run from July 20 to July 23. 

"I feel a compelling duty to protect Florida," Crist said in his press conference from Tallahassee.

The amendment would prohibit oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico within 10 miles of Florida's beaches. If an amendment passed the House and Senate, it would then have to be approved by voters.

The amendment must be done by Aug. 4 to make the November ballot.

Special sessions run about $40,000, and  Daytona Beach representative, Democrat Dwayne Taylor sent a letter to the governor urging that BP foot the bill.

Crist said he expects Sen. Alex Villalobos, R-Miami, to sponsor the resolution in the Senate. But he has received opposition from Republican legislators the House, where leaders have opposed a special session. They said state law already bans drilling in state waters and accused Crist of political grandstanding.

Crist said he tried to reach out to House Speaker Larry Cretul and incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon.  Both Republicans have been openly critical of Crist's previous suggestions for a special session.

One of Crist's rivals in the Senate race, Democrat Kendrick Meek, released a statement that said in part, "What took the governor so long? It shouldn't have come to this."

"Politics has nothing to do with this," Crist said.  "This has everything to do with what's right for a place that I love." 

Florida CFO Alex Sink issued the following statement in response to Crist’s announcement:

“I commend the Governor for agreeing to call for a special session to ban near beach oil drilling, despite the resistance from special interests and some members of the Legislature,” Sink said. “In addition to banning near beach drilling, the special session should also tackle the urgent needs for our business owners and state, including much-needed small business relief, a more streamlined claims process, and the creation of an environmental endowment for additional research.”