Harvannah governor signs offshore drilling ban

CLEVEY SPRINGS, Harvannah -- Going against many in his own party, Harvannah Gov. George Garesby has signed a bill banning oil drilling off the coast of his state.

Garesby, a moderate Conservative, signed the bill, which had broad bipartisan support but was derided by hard-line Conservatives.

Officially titled the "Protect Harvannah's Coastlines Act," the legislation bans all oil drilling in Harvannah waters up to 3 nautical miles off the coast of all the state's nine major islands and dozens of smaller islands.

Citing the need to protect Harvannah from an oil spill "catastrophe," Garesby downplayed concerns from many of his Conservative colleagues who said the move would hurt the state's economy and prolong the state's dependence on oil from the mainland.

"All it takes is one major oil spill, or even a moderate oil spill, to have lasting and interminable consequences on the environment, the ecosystem and wildlife," said Garesby. "We can't risk harming this beautiful state. We live in a gorgeous part of the country and we need to protect this picturesque place we call home."

Supporters of the bill expressed similar convictions.

State Attorney General Kate Morelda, who is an ardent environmentalist, said in a written statement her office will "aggressively prosecute any energy company that attempts to violate this law and put Harvannah's environmental well-being at risk."

She added, "This legislation is critical to securing the safety of our land and shorelines."

Lex Martin, the Nationalist president of the Western Harvannah Metropolitan Council, lauded the bill's passage and hailed the bipartisanship that allowed it to sail through the state legislature.

"The PHCA (Protect Harvannah's Coastlines Act) is vital to protecting the pristine natural beauty of Harvannah for generations to come, and I applaud the governor and state legislative leaders for shepherding this bill through," said Martin.

Conservative state Sens. Kevin Carr of Hamperden and Jan Scianden of Nevington were key CNS supporters of the PHCA, celebrated the governor's approval of the new law.

"This [the PHCA] proves legislators can come together and unite, regardless of party or political persuasion, to protect the environment," said Carr.

"We pride ourselves here in Harvannah on protecting the environment, and today Gov. Garesby did just that by signing this bill into law. We are protecting the environment for the future. We are leading the nation in environmental protection laws," said Scianden.

Not everyone was jubilant about the bill's passage, however.

Hal Swenson, the Conservative WHMC council member for eastern Bourneham County, told the Ashford Current the bill will stifle economic growth.

"Right now, we have more energy companies looking to invest in our state than any other state has. There's a lot of potential here in Harvannah. But this bill closes the door on that economic growth. We're basically telling the energy industry, stay out of Harvannah, take your jobs and your infrastructure and investment to another state that wants you. That's going to cost us jobs," said Swenson.

State Rep. Brian Maulder (C-Milt Crossing) was more stinging in his criticism, saying Garesby "caved" to pressure from the environmental lobby. Support for the law was based on "fear-mongering" by "elitist liberal environmentalists."

"This bill was nothing more than show. The radical environmentalists won the day with this bill, which is based on fear. The threat of an oil spill is statistically quite low, and the economic benefits would far outweigh any perceived danger to the environment. But fear won the day with this battle," Maulder told a Harlyne talk radio station.

The PHCA does not ban oil exploration in Harvannah waters, something George Garesby pointed out when signing the bill.

"What we're telling the oil companies is, you can't drill for oil off our shores. However, you're still free to explore for oil. And if you can find a safer, less hazardous method of extraction that doesn't harm the environment, then we're open to those discussions in the future," said Garesby.

A spokesman for Sanlis-Corten, Grassadellia's largest oil producer, called the legislation "unfortunate."

"Oil extraction is a very safe process. Despite a few high-profile, highly-publicized incidents over the last century, oil extraction still remains a safe and beneficial method of energy production. Sanlis-Corten urges Gov. Garesby and state legislative leaders to reconsider this legislation and either reform it or create new legislation that is more fair, inclusive, and fact-based than the PHCA," said company spokesman Brian McAdams.

Meanwhile, in Mavocke, Assembly and Senate leaders are considering a national ban on offshore drilling in federal waters.

The legislation is still being drafted, and will likely pass in the Nationalist-dominated Senate, but may face hurdles in the more closely-divided National Assembly.

President Brenton Menuhaeo has vowed to sign a national offshore drilling ban bill when it comes to his desk.

Defeated governors settle in to private life

They spent years in the spotlight - leading governments, pushing through their respective agendas, and championing liberal causes. But the six state governors who lost re-election in the 2014 campaign - all Nationalists - are now settling into private life after politics.

The 'ousted six,' as the media call them, (or the 'six losers,' as conservative activist and talk radio host Bruce Gollum has dubbed them), are moving on with their professional careers, albeit in different directions.

Some are continuing their work in politics.

San Bartholomew, the former governor of Biereland, now serves as the executive director of GreenBIE, a pro-environment advocacy group based in Brookings.

Former Kalnier Gov. Karen DeSalle quietly moved to Mavocke, where rumors suggest she will be nominated by President Brenton Menuhaeo to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services. Spokespersons for DeSalle and Collester both declined to comment on the matter.

Another potential presidential appointee, former East Deschire Gov. Lynn DeMont, is reportedly in the running to be the next secretary of agriculture, sources close to DeMont and Collester say. But again, neither party would comment on any pending nomination.

For now, DeMont has returned to his vast central East Deschire 40,000-acre ranch, and signed on as a contributor with the conservative-leaning STAR-TV network.

"To me, this is the best place on the planet. Right here in the heart of East Deschire. I can get in my combine and drive for hours, and feed my cattle, manage the farm. It sounds boring, but when you're a farmer, there's no better thing than living off the land," DeMont told the GBC in a recent sit-down interview.

Ousted Gov. Christine Gabler, the former chair of the National Board of Governors, was approached for a job with the Menuhaeo Administration, but has since been retained by the massive energy corporation Sanlis-Corten as a governmental affairs adviser; a move many have noted for its irony, given Gabler's derisive criticism of big oil companies over the years.

Gabler hasn't commented about her new job, despite multiple requests from national media.

Just days after his defeat, Pierre Carten, the once-popular governor of Wellington, accepted a political science teaching position at the University of Wellington in Lunden Plains.

And then there's South Ceona's Scott Bannich, the affable dentist-turned-governor who lost the governor's mansion in hard-fought race in a state that remains hostile territory for Nationalists.

Bannich is not positioning himself for a presidential appointment, or signing on with a political advocacy group or TV news channel.

Instead, the amiable, down-to-earth Bannich returned to a familiar place - his east Fairfield dentistry.

"Maybe dentistry is what I do best," he joked to the Fairfield Integrus newspaper. "It's certainly my first passion."

None of the six former governors have ruled out running for office again. All remain open to public office in the future.

There's speculation that any of the six could run again in three years to reclaim their previous governorships, or perhaps run for a vacant Senate seat.

Also possible but unlikely is a former governor running for a seat in the National Assembly, as former Lial Gov. Gavin Gymbal (C) did after retiring from the governorship in 2010.

However, if there's money to be made, it's in the private sector, not government.

Scott Bannich, for example, will make considerably more money as a dentist than he will as governor of South Ceona, a position which pays a modest $145,000 per year.

Christine Gabler's secret contract with Sanlis-Corten is said to be well over $300,000 per year, though that figure has not been confirmed since the former governor and the energy giant are both remaining tight-lipped on their partnership.

Pierre Carten will be making less money at the University of Wellington than he did as governor. While in office, he made just over $153,000 per year; his position with the UW now pays $125,000 per year. However, sources close to Carten say he is angling for an administrative position within the university, which would result in a significant pay increase.

The terms of Lynn DeMont's contract with the STAR Network have not been publicized, but industry experts say it's likely near or above $100,000 per year. DeMont is also said to be in the beginning stages of writing a book, of which the subject matter has not been disclosed.

Barring a scandal of some sort, any of the 'ousted six' could feasibly stage a political comeback in the future. All lost by close margins, and most enjoyed some popularity at one point during their tenures.

And all four male former NAT governors were able to win in traditionally conservative states - San Bartholomew in Biereland, Pierre Carten in Wellington, Lynn DeMont in East Deschire, and Scott Bannich in South Ceona.

Though they got swept out of office in 2014, the changing political tides might very well usher the 'ousted six' back into office someday. In the meantime, they return to private life, if only temporarily.