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Tuesday, February 13, 2001 Chamber sends message to governmentBy VALERIE WHITNEY | News-Journal Business Writer DAYTONA BEACH — The federal government should avoid leasing offshore oil and gas drilling sites near Florida's coast. That's the feeling of most people who took part in a membership survey by the Daytona Beach-Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce. "One industrial mishap could quickly destroy the economy of any tourist destination," one member commented on the questionnaire. Another warned, "This would be crippling for resort towns. If allowed, the 50-mile (buffer) limit will be chipped away to the point that oil rigs will be visible from hotel rooms." Jim Cameron, the chamber's vice president for government relations, said the 1,500-member organization received 144 responses to its three-question survey. Besides offshore oil drilling, members also were asked to comment about job-rights litigation, and estate and gift taxation. The survey results, Cameron said, do not necessarily represent the chamber's official position on an issue. However, the findings will be sent to area lawmakers. About 37 percent of those volunteering their views favored the idea of offshore drilling. One advocate commented: "We cannot afford to freeze in the dark or be blackmailed by oil countries." The chamber's congressional action committee is studying whether further action should be taken to eliminate the estate tax a provision passed by Congress last year but vetoed by President Clinton. Survey participants overwhelmingly supported repeal of the estate tax. "This is double taxation on the same money," one member wrote. Fewer than 20 percent thought the tax should be maintained. The survey also asked whether Congress should expand the rights of employees to seek damages under federal civil rights laws. Nearly 79 percent opposed that idea, while 21 percent favored it. "Too much damage is being done to small business by frivolous litigation already; let's not pour gas on the fire," a business owner wrote. |
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