As Louisiana struggles to clean up a large offshore oil rig pipeline spill 1, Progress Florida executive director Mark Ferrulo today released the following statement in anticipation of incoming Speaker Dean Cannon's (R-Winter Park) expected introduction next week of legislation that would allow oil drilling on Florida's coast:

"Introducing a bill to allow oil drilling in our near shore waters in the midst of Louisiana's ongoing oil spill clean-up is a twisted bit of irony that should be lost on no one, least of all Dean Cannon and other legislators charged with protecting Florida's economy and environment.

"Although some elected officials have bought into Big Oil's claim that little or no risk is associated with offshore oil drilling, we need only look to Louisiana, where right now crews are attempting to clean up an 18,000 gallon crude oil spill that has ravaged nearly one fifth of an entire national wildlife refuge.

"As this latest Gulf oil spill tragically illustrates, it's not a matter of if, but when, such a spill will happen along Florida's coast if Dean Cannon gets his way.

More on the spill at Environmental News Service.