Interior Department drops Florida from offshore drilling hit list

After announcing plans to open 90 percent of U.S. coastal waters to oil and gas drilling, the Trump administration has changed its mind—about Florida. “As a result of discussion with Governor [Scott] and his leadership, I am removing Florida from consideration for any new oil and gas platforms,” U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke tweeted. The change came in response to the Republican governor’s concerns that new development would hurt the state’s tourism industry. “Oh?” collectively wondered the governors of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington and millions of citizens, who also oppose President Trump’s offshore drilling plans and who also have thriving coastal industries. Unfortunately, for those governors, unlike Rick Scott, their states are not home to the “Winter White House.”