GOP taking a risk on offshore drilling

As CATO explained in his guest column on Kartik's World, The Bush Administration has used the aftermath of the Katrina disaster to push its political agenda forward. The latest example of the politicizing of the tragedy is in the area of offshore drilling relating to Florida, where several Republican Congressman seem poised to jump from previously established positions to support some degree of drilling off of Florida's coast. For years, offshore drilling has been the third rail of Florida Politics, and nobody in either party regardless of ideology or Environmental record has wanted to touch the issue. Considering public opinion on this issue in the state, one would think the GOP is taking a big risk should they move forward with this agenda. Only time will tell if they get cold feet, but if they don't this could be the major issue in Florida politics next year.