Schwarzenegger Drops Support for Drilling

Disturbing images of the Gulf oil spill have caused California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to change his mind about allowing new drilling for oil off the California coast. The governor withdrew his support for a project expected to raise $100 million for the cash-strapped state, telling reporters: "If I have a choice between the $100 million and what I see in the Gulf of Mexico, I'd rather figure out how to make up for that $100 million."

Schwarzenegger's U-turn on the project—which his administration backed as recently as last week—almost certainly means that the first new drilling in state waters for 40 years will be canceled, notes the San Francisco Chronicle. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, meanwhile, says he's still in favor of new offshore drilling. Perry labeled the spill an "act of God" and warned against any "knee-jerk" reactions, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
(More Rick Perry stories.)