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Governor Charlie Crist is forcing lawmakers back to Tallahassee July 20th to pass a constitutional ban on oil drilling in state waters. The state senate has been on board for more than a month, but the House continues to hold out. As Whitney Ray tells us, with the deadline to get the ban on the November ballot fast approaching, the governor is tired of waiting for a consensus.

With an estimated 60-thousand barrels of oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico everyday, the case against offshore drilling has never been better. Governor Charlie Crist wants to take that case to the people, announcing Thursday, he’ll force lawmakers back to Tallahassee in a special session to consider a constitutional ban on drilling in state waters. Lawmakers must act before August 4th for the measure to be on November ballot.

“I think the rightness of this is so clear, especially dealing with what we have experienced in the past 80 days or so in the Gulf of Mexico. This is an issue, I think, that is so important to the future of our state,” said Crist.

There is already a law banning drilling in Florida waters, but last year lawmakers tried to overturn it. That’s why Crist says a ban needs to be written into the constitution.

Crist, who broke with the Republican Party in early May, began considering a special session shortly thereafter. Republican leaders then began accusing Crist of playing politics with his office. Crist reached out to House leaders, his pleas weren’t received well.

“I called them,’ said Crist. “I’ve not gotten calls back from the House.”

If lawmakers approve the constitutional ban on drilling in state waters, the issue would then go on the November ballot, where 60 percent of voters would have to sign of on the deal.

The Special Session is scheduled from July 20th through the 23rd, but if lawmakers don’t approve the proposed constitutional amendment before August 4th, it will be too late to place it on the November ballot.