Trump and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke managed to piss off both coasts today, but it’s not for the usual reasons. Trump recently announced plans to vastly expand offshore oil drilling, drawing criticism from across the country and both sides of the aisle.
Today, Zinke and Trump caved to “pressure” from Florida’s Republican Governor and agreed to exempt only Florida from the expansion of offshore drilling.
Read my full statement on taking #Florida off the table for offshore oil and gas. Local voice matters. pic.twitter.com/fJhv0p0CDC
— Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) January 9, 2018
It’s not lost on anyone that Florida is home to Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s gaudy “Winter White House” to which he retreats to play golf and forget the names of close friends almost weekly.
Former White House Ethics Chief Walter Shaub fired back and called it out in a fiery tweet.
SO YOU ARE EXEMPTING THE STATE THAT IS HOME TO THE FESTERING CANKEROUS CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT THE ADMINISTRATION LIKES TO CALL THE "WINTER WHITE HOUSE" AND NONE OF THE OTHER AFFECTED STATES??????? GO LOOK UP "BANANA REPUBLIC" THEN GO FLY A ZINKE FLAG TO CELEBRATE MAKING US ONE
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) January 10, 2018
Zinke rationalized the Florida carveout by saying its coasts “are heavily reliant on tourism as an economic driver.” He conveniently ignores the fact that all coastal states rely on their coasts for tourism and economic drive. No one’s coming to New Jersey for the view.
Republican rep coastal states, too, and they’re not thrilled about the spoiled coastlines and potential for environmental disaster either.
A handful of lawmakers joined the chorus of complaints on Twitter after news broke of Florida’s exemption.
New York doesn't want drilling off our coast either. Where do we sign up for a waiver @SecretaryZinke? https://t.co/dt1rJAEna1
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) 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
(1/2) Sent letter w/ @SenAngusKing to @SecretaryZinke to express our opposition to any effort to open waters off Maine’s coast to offshore drilling. Read: https://t.co/wBt10zhGjG
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) January 8, 2018
(2/2) Offshore drilling could negatively affect the health of Maine’s fisheries & other coastal resources, threatening to harm not only the environment but jobs for hardworking Mainers as well. Countless Mainers’ livelihoods depend on the health of the ocean.
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) January 8, 2018
Looks like Zinke’s going to have some ‘splaining to do.