ICYMI: Rick Scott’s Latest Political Stunt Not Fooling Anyone
TALLAHASSEE, FL – With Rick Scott still refusing to admit he’s running for Senate, his “good friend”, Donald Trump, gave him the perfect gift to keep his taxpayer-funded shadow campaign in full swing – or so he thought. Activists, lawmakers, and reporters across Florida and the United States have been quick to call out Scott’s opposition to Trump’s drilling expansion as nothing but a cheap political stunt. Here’s what they’re saying:
Trump delivers a Senate race sweetener to Scott
Source: Politico
“Donald Trump delivered a big political contribution to Rick Scott on Tuesday as the Florida governor contemplates a bid for U.S. Senate: a pledge to spare Florida from administration plans to expand offshore oil drilling nationwide. The surprise announcement from Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke — who went to the trouble of flying to Tallahassee to stand beside Scott — outraged environmentalists and Democrats who insist the decision was a political ploy that unlawfully gave preferential treatment to Florida, a swing state that voted for Trump and that’s home to his so-called “Winter White House” escape at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. Zinke made sure that the term-limited governor got all the credit. In response to a question about what was the final determining factor in his decision, Zinke said: ‘The governor.’”
Florida Gov. Rick Scott Has Repeatedly Flip-Flopped On Offshore Oil Drilling
Source: Huffington Post
““Floridians know and remember how Scott consistently championed unsafe oil drilling practices that jeopardize our economy, our safety and our way of life,” Terrie Rizzo, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, told HuffPost. “His blatant attempt to rewrite his record with a tweet is just another attempt to mislead the public for the sake of his own personal political ambitions,”… The Trump administration plan essentially gave the governor a roadmap to press Zinke for compromise in the areas where the oil industry has little interest in drilling anyway, such as off Florida’s Atlantic coast and around the Florida Keys.”
Ryan Zinke’s Decision To Appease GOP Governor On Offshore Drilling Leaves Coastal Democrats Fuming
Source: Huffington Post
“Coastal Democrats from California to New York are blasting Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke for what they view as a political and arbitrary decision to take Florida waters “off the table” for future offshore oil drilling. Some wonder if the sudden reversal was nothing more than a stunt to help get Gov. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) elected to the Senate in 2018, while California’s top prosecutor pointed out that tourism and beauty are not unique to the Republican-led Sunshine State. “California is also ‘unique’ & our ‘coasts are heavily reliant on tourism as an economic driver.’ Our ‘local and state voice’ is firmly opposed to any and all offshore drilling,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra tweeted, referencing Zinke’s own statement. “If that’s your standard, we, too, should be removed from your list. Immediately,” he added.”