TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida House abruptly ended a special session less than an hour after it began without voting on a proposal to ban offshore drilling in state waters.

The Republican-controlled House on Tuesday dealt Gov. Charlie Crist a legislative defeat but handed him a campaign issue.  Crist, who quit the GOP to run for the U.S. Senate as an independent, called the special session in a bid to put the drilling ban on the November ballot.

Crist, who last year said he was open to drilling in state waters, returned to his anti-drilling roots after BP's Gulf of Mexico oil spill fouled Panhandle beaches.

 Republicans say the amendment isn't needed because state law already bans drilling. Crist says voters should decide.