Thelma Drake on drilling off of Hampton Roads: the "time has definitely come."

By: Rob
Published On: 6/30/2006 11:45:00 AM

The House passed a bill removing the federal moritorium on offshore drilling, allowing landlocked legislatures to run roughshod over their coastal constituents.  Thelma Drake on her voters living with oil derricks:

"This is an issue whose time has definitely come," said U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, R-2nd District, who has emerged as an outspoken supporter of drilling despite concerns about it in portions of her oceanside district.

Concerns are expected, given how much the Second District relies on clean water sources for its economy, between the fishing, agriculture, and tourism.  Virginia Beach's mayor hammers the point from a tourism-friendly perspective:

"I'm not comfortable that we're making a decision that will protect us from irreparable damage," said Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf. "I worry that once we start tinkering with Mother Nature, we'll wind up spending money trying to recover the natural balance of our clean water and pristine beaches."

Contrast Drake's failure to defend her constituents against Oberndorf and other representatives of coastal areas.  For example, fellow Republican Jo Ann Davis, who represents the First District's coastal areas North of Drake, backed up her constituents and voted against the bill.

Wouldn't it be nice for Second District voters if their Rep cared about their interests?

Comments



....and the US Military (kevinceckowski - 6/30/2006 12:08:28 PM)
should have a say.  What is the Military saying?
kc


The Navy Says No (Jerry Griffin - 6/30/2006 1:35:35 PM)
The Navy has gone on record that it needs the coastal waters off Virginia Beach to be unencumbered for training purposes.


Kellam (DukieDem - 6/30/2006 2:29:17 PM)
Needs to make this issue #1. Drake stands with big oil, Phil stands with VaBeach. Hammer it home from now until November.


Here ya' go Mayor - your nightmare scenario. (Bubby - 7/1/2006 8:12:23 AM)

Recipe: Mix off-shore drilling on the Virgina Capes, add one monster 'Noreaster or one modest hurricane and voila! The Thelma Drake Memorial Scrap Yard.