Aug. 21 was a mess for the oil industry. That was the day an oil platform off the northern coast of Australia began leaking 300 to 400 barrels of oil a day into the Timor Sea. Reports are that the leak continues, fouling thousands of miles of ocean and threatening marine life. ...more

October 30, 2009

The Florida tourist industry, backed by almost all state, county and municipal government leaders, has for decades opposed exploring for oil and natural gas off the state's coast. The risk of damage to the tourism industry from, for instance, a drilling rig blowout that fouls Florida beaches, was too great, industry leaders have said. ...more

November 29, 2008

A. Viston of Port Richey says Suncoast News op-ed page columnist James Hibbs is the fool, not people who support Gov. Sarah Palin. ...more

September 17, 2008

Sen. John McCain's reversal of his position on offshore oil drilling diminishes his reputation as a straight-talking maverick. On this issue, he is offering a false promise of quick fixes to today's high gas prices. ...more

June 19, 2008

Sen. John McCain said Monday that the federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling should be lifted, and individual states given the right to pursue energy exploration in waters near their coasts. ...more

June 17, 2008

As energy prices soar and cause good jobs to leave our state and country for places where energy is affordable, Congress will soon consider whether to modify outdated and damaging prohibitions on domestic energy production. ...more

June 11, 2008