Southerland calls for leadership, action and preventive measures - not petty politics.
 
Panama City:  Steve Southerland called on President Obama and Congressman Boyd to stop playing politics as usual and focus on the continuing crisis in the Gulf of Mexico.
 
"I continue to be appalled by the lack of action and leadership by this administration to deal with the environmental crisis growing day by day with the oil leak in the Gulf," said Southerland.  "I join the Congressional Republicans and growing number of Congressional Democrats in calling for action from President Obama to start implementing measures to collect the oil and prevent as much of it as possible from reaching our shores in Florida's District 2.  Families, businesses, our environment, wildlife and overall economy have much to lose and due to a terrible response to this crisis have lost a lot already in this environmental tragedy.  President Obama's golf game and Congressman Boyd's failing campaign can wait but the folks who need results CAN NOT afford to wait any longer.
 
"I believe that valuable time was wasted during the period that the winds and currents protected the Florida coast.  This oil leak disaster should NOT be handled or approached as if it were 'business as usual.'  It needs to be dealt with and resolved using every available resource.  I call on President Obama to issue a temporary waiver to the Jones Act of 1920 and allow foreign vessels to help skim our waters in the Gulf and prevent as much oil as possible from reaching our shores.  I further call on Allen Boyd to show some leadership in this area and start acting like he is the representative of the Gulf Coast and understands what is at stake here.  This is not the time for a protectionist or head-in-the-sand attitude.  This is the time for our leaders to take the necessary steps to protect our shores and our way of life," Southerland went on to say.  "Tragedies and catastrophes such as these give us a true glimpse into the character and commitment of our leaders.
 
"The poor handling of this catastrophe begs several questions.  If we have enough U.S. skimmers then why were they not dispatched within days of the accident in a proactive manner?  If we have enough U.S. skimmers then why isn't every single one of them in the Gulf of Mexico right now?  If we don't have enough of our own skimmers, why isn't Allen Boyd leading the charge on behalf of his district in finding solutions rather than relying on and rubber stamping every act of the Obama Administration?  What is it exactly that President Obama and Congressman Boyd have done over the last seven weeks to fix this problem?  Either our leaders are too arrogant or too blind to see that they have totally mismanaged this catastrophe and after seven weeks could only muster a speech.
 
"I applaud those Congressional Democrats who are calling on President Obama to waive the Jones Act so that the coastline of Florida can be better protected," said Southerland.  "I am always proud of those leaders who are committed to the best interest of the people and not their own political self interest."
 
Southerland concluded by saying, "Unfortunately Allen Boyd and his staff are too busy spending their efforts and energy videotaping the campaigns of Senator Al Lawson and Steve Southerland rather than focusing on solutions and issues that really matter to the people, the economy and the wildlife of Florida's District 2.  We will remember in November - this is unacceptable."