Special Session Proves Republicans Refuse to Govern

Darden Rice correctly points out that until recently offshore drilling was a third rail subject in Florida.

Prudence and caution has always been the responsible approach, not putting our coasts at risk. Until recently, Florida had wisely benefited from strong bipartisan legislative and administrative support for coastal protection from drilling for 25 years. The recent partisan sniping is not the historical norm for such an important issue that could put a stake in the heart of our tourism industry. We need a constitutional amendment as a safe backup system for coastal protection to remove this issue from the shaky vicissitudes of partisan politics.

What has change is the Republican Party's state and national trend to increasing ignore voters. Republicans used to do some things right. Richard Nixon cfreated the EPA and Teddy Roosevelt was a staunch conservationist. The current Republican Party is ruled by their lobbyists.

The Tea Party movement was astroturfed. The Tea Party draws voters who are already conservative Republicans. The GOP hears no voice accept corporate fundraising money. Republicans saw George W. Bush ignore the concern of voters and get re-elected. In Florida, the Democrats cannot raise enough money to compete with Republicans.

Cannon, one of the biggest players in fighting the redistricting amendments, faces perhaps the most organized Democratic challenger in labor-backed Amy Mercado, but he had raised a whopping $661,000 through last March compared to her $22,700.

Dorworth also has a Democratic challenger in educator and former Sentinel news assistant Steve Barnes, who had raised $15,000 through March. But Dorworth had amassed $107,000, and used a separate political committee called Citizens for an Enterprising Democracy to raise another $134,000.

The Florida Democratic Party deserves much blame for a history of disorganization. The Republican dominance has produced a legislature to dysfunctional to address a constitutional ban against offshore drilling or the need for tax breaks for businesses hurt by the Deep Horizon disaster.