FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION NEAR CHAOS OVER OFFSHORE DRILLING BILL; PUTNAM IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERNAL FIGHT

New York Times Regional Newspaper Group Washington reporter Cory Reiss makes note this morning of the hard debating and flaring tempers that were part of the Florida congressional delegation's meeting that took place the day before Thursday's House vote that would allow oil and natrual gas drilling within 100 miles of the coastline, and even closer if a state's legislature permits.

The bill, which past by a 232-187 vote, was negotiated between Representatives Richard Pombo (R - CA / Chairman, House Resources Committee) and Adam H. Putnam (R - Bartow). While Putnam reportedly won a concession against drilling in a large military training zone extending west to a longitudinal line 234 miles west of Tampa Bay, there is talk that it may not survive a vote in the Senate. Both Florida U.S. Senators, Mel Martinez (R) and Bill Nelson (D) promise to filibuster the overall measure when it comes up for debate there.

Enviromentialists and congressional collegues that opposed the bill are saying that Putnam, chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, sold out Florida. Others, including some who ended up voting against the bill, praised him equally.

"Adam has played a very constructive role," said Rep. Mark Foley, a Fort Pierce Republican who voted against the bill. "We could have had a more difficult hill to climb without him at the table."

Click here to view my post from Thursday (drop down to the update) to check out a list of how your congressional representative voted.