California leaders denounce Bush's lifting of offshore oil ban

[babylonsister]

California leaders denounce Bush's lifting of offshore oil ban
By Rob Hotakainen | McClatchy Newspapers


Fearing environmental damage to the state's coastline, California's top leaders made it clear Monday that they want nothing to do with President Bush's plan to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling.

Bush said his approach would reduce pressure on record gasoline prices, and he urged Congress to follow his lead.

"Failure to act is unacceptable," Bush said.

But as soon as the president made the announcement in a Rose Garden ceremony, California's Democratic leaders accused Bush of cozying up to oil interests. They said his plan would do nothing to lower gasoline prices.

"Once again, the oilman in the White House is echoing the demands of Big Oil," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco. "The Bush plan is a hoax. It will neither reduce gas prices nor increase energy independence. It just gives millions more acres to the same companies that are sitting on nearly 68 million acres of public lands and coastal areas."

Sen. Barbara Boxer, who heads the Senate's environmental committee, said Bush was "taking special-interest government to a new level" and threatening California's coastal economy, which she said is worth $12 billion and produces almost 270,000 jobs.

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http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/44287.html

[Yavin4]

1. This Will Be A Major Net Loss for Coastal States

Some of the most expensive properties in states like CA, FLA, ME, etc. are on their coasts. People pay huge money for these properties which mean huge revenue in the form of property taxes. If big, giant ugly oil riggs blot ocean views, the prices for these properties will plummet, and so too will the property taxes.

[babylonsister]

2. Not to mention the pollution and globs of oil that inevitably escape

from these behemoths.