Being a lackey of the Trump administration proved it’s worth something last night, when Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced that Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s state would be exempt from a new plan to open nearly all U.S. coastal waters to oil and gas exploration.
Naturally, other states quickly began to wonder: Did their drilling waivers get lost in the mail?
New York doesn't want drilling off our coast either. Where do we sign up for a waiver @SecretaryZinke? https://t.co/dt1rJAEna1
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 10, 2018
State leaders from California, Oregon, Maryland, and more took to Twitter last night to ask whether they could get in on getting out of the latest installment in the Trump administration’s plan to “unleash” American energy production, which (before the Florida waiver) involved opening some 90 percent of offshore waters to drilling.
Currently, 94 percent of coastal waters are closed to this sort of development, and many coastal residents aren’t exactly happy at the prospect of that changing. They, like the people of Florida, have their coastal economies and environments to think about. While it was mostly Democrats calling Zinke out after last night’s announcement, both Democrats and Republicans have voiced their opposition to the plan.
The Trump Administration’s proposal to allow drilling off the coast in the Pacific region represents an outrageous attack on our coastal economies, culture, and environment.
— Sen. Maria Cantwell (@SenatorCantwell) January 9, 2018
Secretary Zinke must also abandon his efforts to drill along California's beautiful coastline — protection of our ocean shouldn't depend on the D, R, or I after the governor's name. https://t.co/SJjb5CbVMC
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 10, 2018
Sadly, other states might find it more difficult than they’d like to emulate man who doesn’t believe state employees should utter the words climate change Rick Scott. The move was widely interpreted as a political stunt intended to boost Scott’s favorability among the wealthy NIMBY-er crowd or whoever else might be considering voting a governor who thinks drilling in the Everglades is chill into the Senate. As Alexander Kaufman points out over at the Huffington Post, Scott has had plenty of practice flip flopping on key issues to curry favor among progressives during election years.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth pointing out hypocrisy. Some state leaders who genuinely care about keeping their coastal waters clean might wind up suing Trump over the new program.
For now, state leaders are flooding real life cowboy Ryan Zinke’s mentions with reminders that everything continues to be embarrassing.
.@SecretaryZinke: California is also "unique" & our "coasts are heavily reliant on tourism as an economic driver." Our “local and state voice” is firmly opposed to any and all offshore drilling.
If that's your standard, we, too, should be removed from your list. Immediately. https://t.co/T6W6JaPCPh
— Archive – Attorney General Becerra (@AGBecerra) January 10, 2018
Hey @SecretaryZinke, let's do the same for Oregon! https://t.co/stAKAD1ymY
— Kate Brown (@KateBrownForOR) January 10, 2018
Virginia’s governor (and governor-elect) have made this same request, but we have not received the same commitment. Wonder why… https://t.co/9HgvOWC1p6
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) January 10, 2018
Maryland's coast and the Chesapeake Bay are national treasures. Putting them at risk is foolish, unfair and hypocritical. https://t.co/YvCMqBCkb0
— Brian Frosh, Former Attorney General of Maryland (@BrianFrosh) January 10, 2018
Dear Secretary Zinke, California like Florida, has hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline and a governor who wants to keep it that way. Or is that not enough for blue states? https://t.co/vQ5Qtl8Xik
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 10, 2018
Mr. Secretary, Delaware is home to five-star beaches and a thriving tourism industry that's a linchpin of our economy. Delawareans deserve their voices to be heard, too. https://t.co/aIAuLJ6gsP
— Senator Tom Carper (@SenatorCarper) January 10, 2018
We'd like a word in Virginia. https://t.co/hKumvPMcV4
— . (@RalphNortham) January 10, 2018
Dear Californians who have a Republican Member of Congress: Keep in mind your Member of Congress is enabling @realDonaldTrump to screw California. Keep that in mind when you vote this November. https://t.co/s8EwCiDoxW
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 9, 2018
This offshore drilling plan is also opposed by the Governors of:
– South Carolina
– North Carolina
– Virginia
– Maryland
– Delaware
– New Jersey
– New York
– Connecticut
– Massachusetts
– New HampshireHalf of them are Republicans. And that's just the Atlantic Ocean. https://t.co/PNAtXK7ODk
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 9, 2018
