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Concord, N.H. - Yesterday, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that Florida would be removed "from consideration for any new oil and gas platforms," following Florida Governor Rick Scott's vocal opposition to the plans. Governor Sununu's similar calls to exempt New Hampshire from any offshore drilling have been ignored. This decision to auction offshore drilling space across New Hampshire's coastline came after Sununu visited the White House eight times since taking office and after Secretary Zinke visited New Hampshire just last year. NHDP Chair Ray Buckley issued the following statement: "Governor Sununu constantly brags about his close relationship with President Trump, but yesterday it was clear just how shallow his leverage is. The Trump administration decided not to exempt New Hampshire from offshore drilling, while excusing Florida because Governor Rick Scott 'can be trusted.' Despite constant attempts to curry favor with the Trump Administration by excusing inexcusable behavior, Sununu is still unable to secure the protections for Granite Staters that he hoped this access would grant him. With this failure to leverage his relationship with Trump, Sununu has proven once again that he's an ineffective leader who is cozying up to the president for no reason."
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