Florida's Governor Calls Special Legislative Session on Offshore Oil. By Steve Bousquet, Miami Herald, May 11, 2010. "Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday that a special legislative session will be called in the next couple of weeks to focus on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban offshore oil exploration, as well as new tax incentives to encourage utilities to promote renewable energy sources. `I think it's important that we go ahead and have a special session,' said Crist, who indicated Senate President Jeff Atwater was in support of it... The call for a special session come at a time when the Gulf oil spill -- though not projected to hit Florida anytime soon -- has heightened political tension around oil drilling in Florida.
"And that means there are political points to be scored for Crist, who will be in the media spotlight as he seeks to strengthen his independent U.S. Senate candidacy. It's also a potential publicity bonanza for Atwater, a Republican candidate for chief financial officer. At least three-fifths of both houses of the Legislature would have to pass the proposed amendment, and at least 60 percent of voters would have to vote for it in November -- two hurdles that Crist says can easily be overcome."
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