Billy House and William March/Media General News Service
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DENVER -- The controversy over new off-shore drilling splashed Monday onto the opening day of the Democratic National Convention, with Floridians rejecting a Louisiana senator’s request for a chance to talk to them about the idea.
Meanwhile, convention delegations from Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina have agreed to hear Sen. Mary Landrieu on a so-called “Gang of 10” proposal to open up new acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and also end a ban on drilling off their Atlantic coasts.
The snub by Florida comes even as Barack Obama has said he is “willing to consider” allowing additional drilling in a limited number of offshore areas if it helps Congress end a partisan logjam on energy legislation.
But Florida’s senior elected Democrat, Sen. Bill Nelson, remains among those staunchly opposed to expanding off-shore drilling.
Landrieu made her requests to speak about the “Gang of 10” proposal to the state party chairs of Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, as well as Florida’s Karen Thurman, both in an e-mail Saturday and letters sent Sunday.
“You are no doubt familiar with the proposal, in which new oil and gas production would be permitted in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and Florida would receive a substantial share of the revenues generated,” wrote Landrieu, in the Florida letter.
“I know your schedule is already quite busy, but I would be very grateful for the opportunity to drop by a meeting of your delegation on Wednesday or Thursday morning, August 27 or 28, to discuss our proposal and answer your questions about its potential impact for Florida,” she wrote.
But a Thurman spokesman confirmed that Landrieu’s request to speak to the Florida delegation was turned down.
“While the Florida delegation has great respect for fellow Southerner, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, we must politely decline her request to speak to our delegation.
Unfortunately, for the days that Sen. Landrieu is available, our speaking program schedule is already full,” said Florida Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff, Monday.
Jotkoff would not comment when asked if other considerations came into play, including whether Nelson’s opposition to the “Gang of 10” proposal played a role.
Nelson is scheduled to appear at a Florida delegation breakfast this morning (Tuesday).
Landrieu and four other Democrats and five Republicans – the “Gang of 10” -- made their proposal to try to end weeks of feuding in Congress over what to do about skyrocketing energy prices.
The compromise open new acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico to leasing, including Florida, and end a decades-old ban on drilling off the coasts of Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas — if the officials of those states want to allow the production. The proposal also sets up an opt-in provision so legislatures and governors can allow drilling off their coasts.
Nelson’s chief of staff, Pete Mitchell, said Monday that the senator continues to consider Landrieu’s position calling for additional off-shore drilling wrong.
But Nelson did not ask state party officials to rebuff her request to speak to the Florida’s convention delegates, he said.
Landrieu spokesman Adam Sharp said the senator is not upset at the decision by Florida’s party officials, but is happy to have the chance to speak to the delegates from other states.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at bhouse@mediageneral.com or at 1 (202) 662-7673.
Meanwhile, convention delegations from Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina have agreed to hear Sen. Mary Landrieu on a so-called “Gang of 10” proposal to open up new acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and also end a ban on drilling off their Atlantic coasts.
The snub by Florida comes even as Barack Obama has said he is “willing to consider” allowing additional drilling in a limited number of offshore areas if it helps Congress end a partisan logjam on energy legislation.
But Florida’s senior elected Democrat, Sen. Bill Nelson, remains among those staunchly opposed to expanding off-shore drilling.
Landrieu made her requests to speak about the “Gang of 10” proposal to the state party chairs of Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, as well as Florida’s Karen Thurman, both in an e-mail Saturday and letters sent Sunday.
“You are no doubt familiar with the proposal, in which new oil and gas production would be permitted in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and Florida would receive a substantial share of the revenues generated,” wrote Landrieu, in the Florida letter.
“I know your schedule is already quite busy, but I would be very grateful for the opportunity to drop by a meeting of your delegation on Wednesday or Thursday morning, August 27 or 28, to discuss our proposal and answer your questions about its potential impact for Florida,” she wrote.
But a Thurman spokesman confirmed that Landrieu’s request to speak to the Florida delegation was turned down.
“While the Florida delegation has great respect for fellow Southerner, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, we must politely decline her request to speak to our delegation.
Unfortunately, for the days that Sen. Landrieu is available, our speaking program schedule is already full,” said Florida Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff, Monday.
Jotkoff would not comment when asked if other considerations came into play, including whether Nelson’s opposition to the “Gang of 10” proposal played a role.
Nelson is scheduled to appear at a Florida delegation breakfast this morning (Tuesday).
Landrieu and four other Democrats and five Republicans – the “Gang of 10” -- made their proposal to try to end weeks of feuding in Congress over what to do about skyrocketing energy prices.
The compromise open new acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico to leasing, including Florida, and end a decades-old ban on drilling off the coasts of Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas — if the officials of those states want to allow the production. The proposal also sets up an opt-in provision so legislatures and governors can allow drilling off their coasts.
Nelson’s chief of staff, Pete Mitchell, said Monday that the senator continues to consider Landrieu’s position calling for additional off-shore drilling wrong.
But Nelson did not ask state party officials to rebuff her request to speak to the Florida’s convention delegates, he said.
Landrieu spokesman Adam Sharp said the senator is not upset at the decision by Florida’s party officials, but is happy to have the chance to speak to the delegates from other states.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at bhouse@mediageneral.com or at 1 (202) 662-7673.