Crist to Call Special Session on Offshore Drilling

Gov. Charlie Crist will call a special session for July 20-23 to ban offshore drilling.

"I feel a compelling duty to protect Florida," Crist told reporters. "And I'm going to be governor for about six more months, and I think I wouldn't be doing my duty as governor if I did not call for this special session."

Crist is no longer a Republican and House Speaker Dean Cannon is strongly for offshore drilling. Crist will need a lot of public support to keep offshore drilling off the Florida coast.

CFO Alex Sink sent out a press release supporting Crist's call for a special session.

“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,” said CFO Sink. “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.”