Florida House special session is over and done in less than an hour

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - At 12:00 p.m., the House began a special session and debate to discuss a constitutional ban on oil drilling off of Florida's shores.

At 12:51 p.m., 67 voted for and 44 voted against adjourning, and the session was over.

Governor Charlie Crist called the special session in an attempt to place a drilling ban before Florida's voters this November. Instead, lawmakers chose to call it quits.

During the short session, House Speaker Larry Cretul said "there is nothing we can do this week to improve the situation" in the Gulf, and that Crist gave lawmakers "far too little time for reflection and review."

In a statement, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink claimed "They don't have enough time for small business owners in Northwest Florida. They don't have enough time for the oyster men or the bait tackle shop owner or the countless other working class folks that call Northwest Florida home."

During the session, House Democrats suggested the time to act was now. A co-sponsor of the House bill for the ban said Floridians have no faith in elected lawmakers.

"This legislature is no longer trusted on this issue," said Rep. Rick Kriseman, of St. Petersburg. Rep. Darryl Rouson, of St. Petersburg said the "seminal moment" was a "missed opportunity."

Republicans, meanwhile, said they wouldn't be rushed, and plan to address the issue this fall.

Cretul said "we simply cannot conduct business as usual," and that House and Senate leaders are "working toward another session, likely in September."

Rep. Rob Schenck, of Spring Hill, said "It will not create one job or help one business in the Panhandle get working again," and the session was just political posturing.