Menendez slams Trump oil drilling plan as a 'nightmare' for Jersey Shore

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and nine of his Democratic colleagues took over the Senate floor to oppose President Donald Trump's proposal to allow oil drilling off the Jersey Shore and on most other U.S. coasts.

"We will not stand silent while this administration auctions the Jersey Shore off to the highest bidder, not without a fight," Menendez, D-N.J., said on the Senate floor.

The effort was led by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Energy Committee.

"The truth is that instead of creating new jobs in the oil and gas sector, the administration is poised to choose big oil jobs over other ocean-dependent industries like fishing, shipbuilding, and tourism on our coasts," Cantwell said.

Menendez and the other 13 members of the state's congressional delegation, Democrats and Republicans alike, have challenged the Trump administration's proposal to allow offshore drilling in as much as 90 percent of the outer continental shelf.

The Atlantic coast currently is off limits through at least 2022.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke excluded Florida from the plan after hearing from Gov. Rick Scott, a Trump supporter and a possible Senate GOP candidate this fall. But he refused to do the same for other areas, including New Jersey, whose tourism industry would be devastated by an oil spill.

Tourism generates $44 billion annually for New Jersey and supports 500,000 jobs. The state's commercial fishing industry adds $7.9 billion a year to the state's economy and creates more than 50,000 jobs.

"What's happening here is a dream scenario for the oil industry, but a nightmare for our shore communities," Menendez said in his floor speech. "It's a gift to corporate polluters at the expense of our coastal economies."

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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