Two state lawmakers are fighting to give voters a chance to send a message to Congress about banning oil drilling off the state's coast.

Rep. Mary Brandenburg and Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, want to put a constitutional amendment on the 2008 ballot that would ban oil drilling within 250 miles off Florida's coast. They say the amendment is needed because Congress has voted to allow drilling 125 miles off the coast and now it's considering a plan that would permit drilling as close as 45 miles from shore.

Brandenburg, D-Lake Worth, said a federal agency is considering leasing waters off the Panhandle for oil and gas exploration. If state lawmakers vote to place the drilling ban on the ballot, she said, that would send a message to Washington not to proceed with any leases.

"The constitutional amendment that I am proposing would allow Florida to use our full powers, which are limited powers, to oppose drilling," Brandenburg said. "Could we be overruled? Well, maybe we could. But I don't think Congress, after the voters in Florida speak loud and clearly on this issue, would go against us."

A House committee took no action on the issue. The plan would take a three-fifths vote of the Legislature to get on the ballot.

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