Bill Nelson denies holding up passage of Flint water bill

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U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is pushing back against reports he’s holding up  legislation to help Flint, Michigan, recover from the poisoning of its water supply.

Nelson says because he opposed an amendment attached to the bill that would create incentives to increase offshore drilling, he has no choice but to block the measure by placing what’s known as a “hold” on it.

“For 40 years, I’ve fought to keep oil rigs off of Florida’s coast,” Nelson said.

“Now we have an energy bill that I obviously support, but a Republican senator from Louisiana wants to attach a part that starts the process of putting oil rigs off of Florida. I will not let that happen.”

The amendment, proposed by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, would increase the amount of revenue states would receive if they allow oil drilling off their coasts.

Nelson maintains he supports the overall energy bill and funds allocated in it to help Flint, Michigan.

Before Nelson placed a hold on the Flint legislation, U.S. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah was the only remaining senator preventing a vote on the Flint bill. Lee had argued Congress shouldn’t get involved in a local water crisis.

If the entire package is not voted on before the Senate leaves for its spring recess on March 21, senators will probably look for a different way to assist Flint.

Melissa Ross

In addition to her work writing for Florida Politics, Melissa Ross also hosts and produces WJCT’s First Coast Connect, the Jacksonville NPR/PBS station’s flagship local call-in public affairs radio program. The show has won four national awards from Public Radio News Directors Inc. (PRNDI). First Coast Connect was also recognized in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 as Best Local Radio Show by Folio Weekly’s “Best Of Jax” Readers Poll and Melissa has also been recognized as Folio Weekly’s Best Local Radio Personality. As executive producer of The 904: Shadow on the Sunshine State, Melissa and WJCT received an Emmy in the “Documentary” category at the 2011 Suncoast Emmy Awards. The 904 examined Jacksonville’s status as Florida’s murder capital. During her years in broadcast television, Melissa picked up three additional Emmys for news and feature reporting. Melissa came to WJCT in 2009 with 20 years of experience in broadcasting, including stints in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. Married with two children, Melissa is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism/Communications. She can be reached at [email protected].



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