Between the start of April and the end of July, Florida Energy Associates spent as much as $234,000 on legal work and lobbying to push a bill through the Legislature last session to open Florida waters to oil exploration and end the 20-year drilling moratorium. The measure passed the House, 70-43, but died in the Senate.
The group has returned, ready to renew the effort, and supporters say defeat won't happen again.
"I predict we'll pass the bill and the governor will sign it," boasted Barney Bishop, president of Associated Industries of Florida, which is backing the measure. Read more here.












Comments