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There’s a tourism crisis in Florida and the state’s lead agency in charge of bringing visitors says it needs 26 million dollars to save the industry. Visit Florida is asking BP to foot the bill for a nationwide tourism blitz to let travelers know the company’s oil leak hasn’t hit Florida beaches yet. As Whitney Ray reports, with Memorial Day around the corner there’s no time to waste.

The message is as clear as the water washing up on Florida’s beaches; Florida is open for business.

But fear of the growing oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico making landfall in Florida has travelers looking elsewhere. Carol Dover, the President of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association says business flat lined this week.

“Monday they hit the 911 button. There were no phones ringing, they were letting people go. We had some who had room reservations that were higher than the 90 percentile that dropped down to 15 and 17 percent,” said Carol Dover, the president of Florida’s Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Dover is on the state tourism board. Wednesday the board asked Governor Charlie Crist for millions to help get the word out that Florida beaches are unharmed.

“We need to advertise, get the message out that our beaches clean, our water is clean, the fish are biting. Please come to the panhandle, it’s beautiful and I think we have to do it quickly,” said Crist.

But doing it quickly will take a lot more than the 2.5 million dollars the state has available for advertising.

Visit Florida wants to run a media blitz with TV, radio and internet advertising going out nationwide. They’re asking BP to cough up 24 million dollars to launch the campaign.

“We are asking them for an immediate response to help offset the indirect impacts that had occurred as a result of no impact, and just being associated with the whole crisis,” said Crist Thompson, President of Visit Florida.

It will take ten days to launch the campaign. Visit Florida hopes to get the money soon enough to reach travelers before Memorial Day Weekend.

Not since 1972 has a national political convention been held in Florida, but that’s about to change. The National Republican Party this afternoon chose Tampa as the site for its 2012 National convention. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the move is a recognition that Florida could once again be a pivotal player in the national election.

1972 was the last time the Republicans came to Florida. Thousands of war protestors rioted in Miami.

2012 is expected to be much quieter.

“We’re just so grateful to the people that worked very hard on the bid,” Florida Republican Party spokesperson Katie Betta said. “We’re proud of the work that they did and we really believe that we put our best foot forward.”

The decision could bring 20 to 30 thousand visitors to Florida. It comes on the last day that the Governor is officially registered as a Republican.

“It’s great for jobs, it’s great for tourism,” Governor Charlie Crist said. “It’s great for economic development.”

Even Democrats are cheering.

“Every Floridian of all parties should be celebrating,” Florida Democratic Party spokesperson Eric Jotkoff said. “Democrats, Republicans, Independents should be celebrating because this will bring in millions of dollars into our economy. It will help Florida’s tourism economy recover.”

While Democrats are applauding the selection, Florida isn’t even on their radar. They’re afraid of hurricanes.

August and September are at the height of hurricane season and Democrats don’t want to take the chance.  The GOP however, appears ready to roll the dice in hopes of improving its chances to win Florida in 2012.

And Florida will be ever more important in 2012. That’s because it is expected to pick up at least one if not two electoral votes.

The Republican Party of Florida is $7,700 richer tonight. $7,700 is the bid the party got on eBAY for an oil portrait of Governor Charlie Crist. The GOP put the painting up for bid the day after the Governor switched his US Senate run to No Party.

“We were able to sell the painting for $7,700, which is more than we paid for the painting of Governor Crist and Chairman Greer,” Katie Betta, spokesperson for the Republican party of Florida, said. “So that is certainly a victory in our eyes and we’re grateful to the folks who bid on the painting. We’re extremely grateful that we will have another $7,700 to add to our campaign account to make sure we elect Republicans in November.”

The party would not divulge who purchased the painting and said other than contract information they did not know if the person was a Republican, Democrat, or their motivation for making the purchase.

Florida lawmakers are expected to be back at the State Capitol before the month is out to send voters a chance to forever ban oil drilling in Florida waters and to enact an energy policy. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the fifty thousand dollar a day Special Session is likely before end of the month.

State law already bans oil drilling in Florida waters, as millions of gallons of oil meander across the gulf, politicians from both parties are calling for a near permanent constitutional ban on oil drilling. Once a drilling supporter, Governor Charlie Crist has concluded it can’t be done safe enough or far enough from Florida’s coast.

“I think what’s important is that we all stay focuse,” Crist said. “That we put forth a ban on drilling off the coast of Florida. There’s consensus there that people should have the right to vote on it.”

The Session would also attempt to enact a state energy policy.

The likely timetable for a special session, the last week of May.

The Governor is expected to set the dates for the session by the end of the week, with the agenda including much more than a permanent ban on drilling.

“But I want to talk about wind, nuclear, solar, gas, natural gas,” Crist said.

CFO Alex Sink first called for the ban last week. Attorney General Bill McCollum says it isn’t needed…but will go along with it.

“If you have a special session and the legislature decides to put it on the ballot, so be it,” McCollum said. “I’m against off shore drilling.”

The only opposition is from Associated Industries, which pushed drilling last year.

“This is not the time to do this,” Barney Bishop, with Associated Industries, said. “This is a knee jerk reaction. This is a waste of money to bring the legislators back up.”

But even the powerful lobby organization believes sending the ban to voters is all but a done deal.

If voters do get a say, at least 60 percent would have to approve for it to become effective.

The economic impact of oil hitting Florida’s coast could range in the billions. Charter Boats, hotels, and restaurants are already seeing a decline in business even though a drop of oil hasn’t hit Florida’s coast. As Whitney Ray tells us, the governor is assembling a taskforce to find ways to soften the economic blow to the state’s economy.

Once news of the massive oil spill hit the national airwaves, recreational fisherman stopped calling Captain Bob Zales, and hundreds of others.

Tuesday Zales pleaded with the governor and state cabinet to do something.

“My phone has stopped ringing,” said Zales.

It’s not just charter boat captains, commercial fishermen are falling victim to fears of toxic fish even though the oil is still miles away from Florida’s Gulf Coast.

And when the fishing industry suffers, seafood joints and oyster shacks feel the pinch. The domino effect is also hitting hotel owners, who are reaching out at town hall meetings for help.

“People are not sure about this, they don’t know whether to book and come to the beach,” said Anita Grove with the Apalachicola Chamber of Commerce.

Governor Charlie Crist is forming a taskforce to study the economic impact of the leak on Florida businesses, track claims paid by BP and help promote tourism.

“This will focus on ways we can help Florida businesses and industries recovering from lost business due to the oil spill,” said Crist.

Member of the taskforce have yet to be named, but Crist has already given them their first assignment, report back in 30 days with a forecast of the economic losses. Visit Florida, the state’s tourism agency, will launch a promotional plan tomorrow aimed at informing the tourist, the state is still open for business.

The governor’s anticipated calling of as special session to ban oil drilling and create tax incentives for utility companies to develop renewable energy… could also revive a rebate program for solar. A fund to pay Floridians who put solar panels on their homes has run dry. 8-thousand Floridians are still owed money. Governor Charlie Crist says it’s possible a special session could help them get paid.

“That’s part of the beauty of a special session that deals with that issue; we might be able to get additional help for those who have gone solar,” said Crist.

The rebate program was inadequately funded for two years, state lawmakers left the rebates out of next years budget.

Communities along Florida’s Gulf Coast are scrambling to finalize their action plans as the oil slick continues to grow. They’re preparing for the loss of jobs and the deaths of thousands of marine animals. As Whitney Ray tells us, federal, state and local officials are trying to secure money to pay the unemployed and provide more protection for the coastline.

170 miles from the huge oil slick in the gulf, people from coastal communities crowded into this small room in Franklin County hoping for some good news.

Federal, state and community leaders joined the US Coast guard to answer their questions. Lieutenant Steve Caskey wants residents to be patient as a massive mobilization of people and equipment makes its way east down the peninsula.

“The folks are moving down,” said Caskey.

Within three days, miles of boom will be on site to protect beaches and estuaries… but concerns remain about how well the barrier will hold.

Residents have questions about what was being done to protect sea grass and how chemicals used to break up the oil will effect the coastal environment. Marine biologist and author Jack Rudloe says the chemicals could kill as many organisms as the oil.

“We need to think small. We need to be thinking in terms of plankton, microbial organisms; all the things that make up the food chain,” said Rudloe.

The meeting took place at Florida State’s Coastal and Marine Laboratory, where efforts are underway to record water, land and animal samples before the slick hits.

“You can’t really understand the impact of something of this magnitude if you don’t understand what was there before,” said Dr. Felicia Coleman, the head researcher at the FSU lab.

A scientific analysis of any damage could take years, but the economic impacts are already being felt. Business owners along the coast have already reported people canceling their vacations. State lawmaker listened to their concerns at today’s meeting. They’re calling on Congress to send the state more unemployment dollars in preparation for job losses.

The state has assembled a team of former attorneys general to help Floridians who suffer damages from the oil slick and investigate a possible suit against BP.

Governor Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum announced the formation of a legal advisory council today in Tallahassee. Former Attorneys General Jim Smith and Bob Butterworth are heading up the efforts. Butterworth hopes everyone is treated fairly so the state doesn’t have to sue BP.

“We would hope by putting together this special advisory team, that as General McCollum stated, we could let the people know what they need to know in order to get compensated, we would hope by the end of the day there would be no litigation,” said Butterworth.

The team is still forming. People with questions about loss of business or damages should still call the AG’s office at 866-966-7226.

The state and federal government are asking BP for more money to cover preparation efforts and expected losses from the massive oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico. As Whitney Ray tells us, BP is promising Florida’s Attorney General it will pay claims with in two days of receiving them, while Congress attempts to change federal law to force the oil company to pay more.

Members of the US Coast Guard briefed Governor Charlie Crist Friday on the 11 million gallons of oil hovering near Florida’s coast.

“We don’t think there is an emanate threat to Florida, if there is it will likely be somewhere around the panhandle first,” said Commandant Thad Allen or the US Coast Guard.

While the world waits to see where the oil is headed next, BP is spending 25 million dollars in Florida to safeguard the coast with protective boom.

Federal Law limits BP’s liability for economic losses to 75 million dollars. Florida Congressman Allen Boyd says that’s not good enough.

“It could be catastrophic if that line broke,” said Boyd.

Boyd is supporting legislation to increase the company’s liability to 10 billion. While Congress considers the legislation the state is getting word that BP is going to cough up more cash for Floridians.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum pressured BP into loosening its pockets. The AG’s spokeswoman Sandi Copes says the company promises to pay claims quickly.

“BP is going to make their claims process easier and more efficient and we’ve received a promise from them that they will be able to turn those claims around within 48 hours of the first report,” said Copes.

Still business owners near the coast hold out hope that it won’t be needed.

There are no estimates on how much money Florida could lose from the oil leak. Some people have already canceled vacations, but there is no data yet on many people might visit some place else instead of heading to Florida if the oil hits.

Since May first, 90-thousand people from around the world have visited Florida’s tourism website, many of them to see if our coast had been affected by the massive oil slick sitting in the Gulf. Visit Florida wants tourists know that Florida is still open for Business. Will Seccombe, Chief Marketing Officer for Visit Florida, says their fighting rumors and bad press to make sure people don’t cancel their vacations without all the information.

“It’s a big part of our state’s economy and we are doing out best to make sure everybody knows that this Mothers Day weekend it’s a great place to be in the Sunshine State,” said Seccombe.

Florida has 12-hundred miles of coastline, but if just one part of the coast is hit hard it could keep people from visiting the state if their not knowledgeable about Florida diverse tourist locations and activities.

Governor Charlie Crist is considering the Democrats’ call for a special session on oil drilling. Yesterday Democrats in the state legislature made the call for a special session to write a drilling ban in the state constitution. Legislative leaders say it’s not needed because Florida already has a ban on the books, although a majority vote by the legislature could lift the current ban since it’s not in the constitution. Governor Charlie Crist says he’s considering calling lawmakers back to Tallahassee for drilling and several other issues.

“I’m giving it very serious consideration, particularly as it relates to the spill and potentially other issues. I think more likely than not we will deal with the budget in the line item format but I just want to think about it over the weekend,” said Crist.

Crist is also considering calling a special session to deal with political corruption in the legislature and on several county commissions.

Florida State University researchers are looking for ways to better predict droughts to help farmers reduce losses. The school is getting a little help from the US Department of Agriculture. Today Congressman Allen Boyd announced a 2.5 million dollar federal grant to help the school develop better forecasts. Boyd says knowing when a drought is coming will help safe millions of pounds of food.

“The predictability of the weather has been an amazing tool that the agriculture community can use to keep American on the leading and cutting edge of agriculture production in this county,” said Boyd.

FSU is the leading institution in the Southeastern Climate Consortium. The SECC is dedicated to studying climate changes as well as changes in agricultural ecosystems.

It will be a few days before we know if BP’s attempt to cover the massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is successful. But even if the 100 ton dome stops oil from gushing into the gulf, as Whitney Ray tells us, there will still be more than 11 million gallons of oil in the water threatening our beaches.

Gert McGee is casting for a big catch. He’s already caught lunch. He’s hoping for dinner.

“They are there, you just have to go out and find them. I don’t got no boat or nothing so I just fish on the edge,” said Gert.

But Gert’s days fishing in the St. Marks Salt Marsh may be coming to an end.

A massive oil slick is growing in the gulf and could make its way here. It couldn’t come at a worse time. May is when fish swim inland to lay their eggs in the estuaries. If the oil interrupts that process, it could be devastating to the fishing industry.

Paul Johnson, a marine life and oil policy expert says if the slick makes it into estuaries the casualties will be enormous.

“We’re not talking about just losing this generation of marine fish and wildlife, we are talking about next generation and that’s sad to see that happening,” said Johnson.

We won’t know until this weekend if efforts to cap the leak are successful, but even if they are there will still be 11 million gallons of oil in the gulf.

The wind and water currents have been good to Florida so far. The longer conditions keep the oil at bay the more time it has to break apart and sink to the ocean floor.

Florida Fishermen want people to know that their catch is still clean of any oil toxins and safe to eat. Fear has kept many people from buying Florida fish.

Organizing Oil Cleanup Efforts

It may prove cheaper and easier to mobilize volunteers to help with the clean up efforts if the oil from the gulf leak hits Florida beaches. The toxicity of the oil is lower than expected, which means volunteers who want to pitch in won’t have to take expensive Hazmat classes before they can get to work. Paul Johnson worked for the Florida governor in 1989 and witnessed clean up efforts from the Exxon-Valdez oil spill in Alaska. Johnson says manpower will play a huge role in the clean up.

“When the time comes in Florida, we needs those people to go through this informational briefing, be approved by BP to get involved in the clean up, then get to work cleaning up our coast, because the last thing we as Floridians want is for this beautiful environment to be tainted like I’m afraid it’s going to be,” said Johnson.

Volunteers are already at work around the gulf coast picking up trash and debris. They are also signing up with their county EOC, to help once the oil hits.

Despite being nick named the Sunshine State, Florida’s dependence on oil, both domestic and foreign, is growing. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the last thirty years have been three decades of missed opportunity.

As early as 1980, then-governor Bob Graham was calling for tax breaks for solar energy.

“If we do not change by the year 1990, every Floridian will have 25 percent less available energy,” Graham said.

But successes have been few and far between. Solar contractor Peter Rosen is measuring one of his last Florida buildings for a solar installation. Rosen plans on moving his company out of state after Florida ran out of money for solar rebates, leaving eight thousand people with a broken promise.

“I could do solar anywhere in this country because there are federal rebates,” Rosen said. “Why not go to a state that is also going to subsidize it and make it a lot easier to sell.”

A second failed promise is ethanol.

In 1980, the state legislature required that all gasoline sold be at least 10 percent ethanol. But then they did away with that requirement before it ever took effect.

Florida motorists burn 9 billion gallons of gas each year. Only one ethanol plant is under construction, yet Florida could get a full third of the motor fuel it needs from farmers.

“We can make up to 3 billion gallons of alternative fuels here in Florida through agricultural productions,” Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said.

But there are just 27 e-85 stations like this one in Florida. So as an oil slick inches its way to the coast, some like Bronson suggest we have only our own wasteful habits to blame.

This year legislation to boost spending on solar energy died in the legislative process.

Using satellite pictures and sophisticated computations, an FSU professor says the Gulf gusher has already exceeded the oil spewed from the Exxon Valdez. Dr. Ian MacDonald is part of a scientific team organized by the state university system to help manage the oil spill. MacDonald says resources are scarce so accurate information is important.

“The better idea we have about how much there is and how that is distributed, we’ll know where to deploy what are limited assets,” MacDonald said. “We don’t have enough boom to cover the whole Gulf. I mean, they talk about a million feet of boom, well that’s about 200 miles. So we’ve got 200 miles of boom barriers that we can put out and we’ve got a big, long coastline.”

The Valdez spilled an estimated 11 million gallons in Alaska. MacDonald says at best, those fighting the oil slick will be able to recover just 15 percent of the spill, leaving natural forces to dissipate the oil.