Offshore Drilling Could Return To California If Lawmakers Approve Budget

SANTA BARBARA, CA - JULY 21: California brown pelicans fly near offshore oil rigs after sunset on July 21, 2009 near Santa Barbara, California. After months of partisan bickering over how to close the $ 26.3 billion deficit and begin paying the state's bills again, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders reached a tentative budget deal this week to keep one of the world's largest economies from falling into insolvency. Within the budget agreement, Gov. Schwarzenegger succeeded in having a proposal to expand oil drilling off the Southern California coast for the first time in more than 40 years. In 1969, the Santa Barbara Oil Spill from Union Oil Co. undersea drilling platform caused 200,000 gallons of crude oil to spread over 800 square miles of ocean and beaches and created a massive public outcry against drilling off the state's coast. During the 2008 presidential election, Republicans and Conservatives began pushing for renewed offshore drilling. The budget plan contains massive cuts in state spending and social services. Lawmakers can vote on the deal as soon as this week even as cities and conservation groups gear up to sue the governor and Legislature over emerging details that they disapprove of. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)