Exxon case should serve as a WARNING when considering Off Shore Oil Drilling in

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It was no suprise that in a Guest column in the St. Petersburg(FL)Times[June 26, 2008], United States Representative Ginny Brown-Waite(R-Florida), joined the Republican bandwagon regarding Off Shore Oil Drilling. Brown-Waite's naive opinion is that Off Shore Oil Drilling, including in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, will magically reduce gas prices. She makes it sound like we will receive immediate relief at the pump. Most experts agree that even if Off Shore Oil Drilling was approved today, it would take years or decades before it COULD have any effect on our gasoline prices. On the same day, the St. Petersburg Times reported that the United States Supreme Court reduced "what had been a $5 billion punitive damages award against Exxon Mobile to about $500 million" in the case of "EXXON SHIPPING CO. v. BAKER". This ruling is in regard to the Exxon Valdez oil spill that happened in Alaska's Prince William Sound in June of 1989. That tragedy took place 19 YEARS AGO! Oil companies are quick to take their profits but have no problem allowing court battles to go on for decades before having to pay for their mistakes. The U. S. Supreme Court ruling was 5-3 in favor of the reduction. The five Justices voting in favor of the reduction were nominated by Republicans. Chief Justice John G.Roberts, Jr.was nominated by President George W. Bush; Justice's David Hackett Souter and Clarence Thomas were nominated by President George Bush; and Justice's Scalia and Kennedy were nominated by President Reagan. Their vote in favor of Exxon-Mobil over the citizen's of Prince William Sound was to be expected. There is no guarantee or protections for the American Taxpayer should another "accident" occur. We will be the ones paying for the clean up while Big Oil enjoys their profits. Do we want to see history repeat itself and have our land, our environment and our economies destroyed by the Oil Drilling that the Republican's want so badly? You need to ask yourself, "Who are the Republican's fighting for: Big Oil or the American People? With the Republican's, Big Oil and Big Business will win every time!Please note that for most of my life, I have been a loyal member of the Republican Party.