Exxon im-Mobil-ized!

LAST MONTH, TIM KAINE SENT THE OIL INDUSTRY A CRYSTAL CLEAR message: "Sic Semper Tyrannis."

Gov. Kaine vetoed SB262, the bill that would have allowed oil companies to drill for oil off Virginia’s coast--most notably Virginia Beach. Although Exxon had hoped that Virginia would be the weakest link in a 25 year-old national offshore drilling moratorium, Gov. Kaine showed the country that Virginians don’t barter their natural resources away to corporate interests.

In the measure's place, Gov. Kaine proposed a bill supporting natural gas exploration a minimum of 50 miles off the Virginia coast. The measure states that drilling for natural gas could not occur unless valid scientific research (not funded by ExxonMobil) showed that drilling would be worthwhile.

Interestingly enough, all waters more than three miles from the Virginian coast are considered US waters, not Virginian. Thus, to drill there would require an act of Congress…The same Congress that has, for the past 25 years, consistently shot down Ted Stevens’ diabolical dream to drill the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. It seems that Virginia’s coasts are safe once more.

Thank you to all those who called the Governor with their concerns over SB262 and bravo to Gov. Kaine! We all hope to see more aggressive environmental defense from him in the future!