ICYMI: Rick Scott is Playing Politics With Florida’s Coastlines

TALLAHASSEE, Fl.– Experts issued a stern warning that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s comments on Florida being “off the table” for off-shore drilling, may have hurt Florida more than helped. Zinke made the comments last month alongside Trump’s close friend, Rick Scott. An attorney says the comments are “not legally binding,” and “step on the Interior Department’s decision making process.” The comments show Rick Scott and his political allies are out only to serve his political ambitions, and that Scott will always put himself over the best interests of the people he serves. 

Tampa Bay Times, 2/1/2018, Interior Secretary Zinke may have hurt, not helped, Florida on oil drilling, critics say 

• “Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s splashy announcement that Florida was “off the table” for new oil drilling plans may legally taint that possibility, a law professor argued Thursday.”
• “Other states that challenge any eventual decision or the oil and gas industry … can point to this moment and claim that the secretary did not fully consider their comments because he had already made up his mind.”
• ..”an Interior official told a House panel on Jan. 19 that no final decisions had been made, despite Zinke’s comments.”

“But there is now legal cloudiness — other experts have made the same conclusion as Flournoy.”