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The oil spill off the coast of Louisiana has Florida lawmakers rethinking their efforts to open up the state�s coast to oil drilling.

Legislation to allow drilling with in 10 miles of shore was already dead this session when the spill happened, but Senator Mike Haridopolos says the legislature needs to do some more research.

�What are the risk involved? We want to know. If they�re too high we can�t do it. that�s why we are going to go there first hand. We are going to invite reporters with us, we want to see exactly what happens before we change our policy,� said Haridopolos.

The spill in Louisiana happened just 30 miles from the coast. It�s pumping out a thousand barrels a day.

After a judge partially blocked a new law allowing people to take leave their guns locked in their cars while they�re at work, there are new efforts to revive the law. State Senator Durrell Peaden is trying to amend his agriculture bill to allow all Floridians who own firearms legally to keep them in their cars no matter where they travel. Peaden got the idea from a constituent who was kick out of a funeral service because his gun was hanging in the window of his pickup truck.

�That�s not Wal-Marts, that�s not Disney World, that�s a cemetery. If you can�t take your gun to the cemetery we live in the wrong country,� said Peaden.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce is fighting Peaden�s amendment. The chamber says business owners should have the right to keep guns off of their property.

A five-year quest to allow red light cameras on state roads is almost over. State lawmakers are closer to passing the legislation than ever before, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, until lawmakers adjourn next Friday, nothing is certain.

Melissa Wandall entered the House Chamber on pins and needles. Fridaycould have been the day the Bradenton woman�s five year quest to get red light cameras installed on state roads ended, but it wasn�t. Lawmakers delayed taking the bill up.

�I promised my husband that I would take care of my family and that I would make a reason for what happened that night at the intersection,” Wandall said. “I keep my promises. I�m not going to let the legislators up here keep me from doing that.�

Melissa began the quest after her husband Mark was killed a block from their home. She was 9 months pregnant at the time.

Dozens of cities have installed the cameras at local intersections. One judge has ruled them unconstitutional, but the case is under appeal.

A legislative authorization would put the court case to an end at least going forward.

Legislative approval is looking more likely than ever. The difference this year, the state needs the money.

The cameras will raise almost a hundred million dollars for the state by the year by 2013.

Rep. Ron Reagan has championed the idea when few wanted to touch it.

�I don�t think there are very many people who have the passion that I do for this,” Reagan said. “You know, it�s great legislation. I�ve worked on it for five years. We�re at a point now where we�ve written it, I believe it makes sense. It works well in communities. And more importantly, it has uniform standards around the state.�

Reagan leaves the legislature after the 2010 session, making this perhaps the last best year for red light cameras.

The FBI is asking question about former House Speaker Ray Sansom�s involvement with a legislative deal to build a private prison. The news comes as the feds investigate Sansom, Marco Rubio, and former GOP Chairman Jim Greer for spending millions on Republican Party of Florida credit cards. As Whitney Ray tells us, the trouble for the GOP keeps growing.

A legislative plan to close as many as five state prisons and ship inmates to a private prison run by GEO Group was scaled back last month by public out cry.

Former House Speaker Ray Sansom originated the deal with an amendment in the 2008 state budget.

On March 30th, a concerned citizen filed a complaint with the US Attorney�s Office calling for an investigation. A source familiar with the complaint says the FBI has been asking questions. A GEO Group Lobbyist says the feds haven�t questioned him.

�I never heard anything like that at all,� said Smith.

According to our source the feds may be searching to see if Sansom received any kickbacks from the company. GEO Group, formally known as Wackenhut, gave Sansom�s campaign 500 hundred dollars for his 2007 campaign.

The company gave 145-thousand dollars to the Republican Party of Florida in 2008, and another 130-thousand in 2009. Neither Sansom�s lawyer nor the FBI returned our requests for interviews.

Plans to house 22-hundred inmates in the private prison are moving forward in this year�s budget negotiations. The Police Benevolent Association says lawmakers should halt the prison plan.

�The legislature would be smart to the taxpayers if they stopped this deal and took another look at it,� said Puckett.

Earlier this week news broke of an FBI investigation into spending by Sansom, and several other high ranking Republicans on party issued credit cards. Questions about the prison deal may have spawned from their current investigation.

Insurance company Northern Capital folded earlier this month and as many as six other insurers are on the brink of being unable to pay claims.

Industry experts say companies aren�t prepared to pay claims because rates are too low, and as Whitney Ray tells us, legislation that would allow companies to raise rates without state approval is stalling under the threat of the governor�s veto pen.

Hurricane season is right around the corner and 70-thousand Floridians are scrambling to find coverage because their insurance company Northern Capital folded.

The company didn�t have enough money to pay claims in the event of a major disaster; half a dozen or more are on the brink of collapse. State Senator Mike Bennett says smaller insurers have flooded the market because the state is keeping large companies from charging a fair price.

�They keep wanting to finances these little weak companies and we are letting major companies leave the state of Florida,� said Bennett.

Governor Charlie Crist vetoed legislation last year that would have allowed insurance companies to raise rates without the state�s approval. The bill is back this year, but with the governor on the war path, legislative leaders aren�t taking any chances.

The bill, which would allow companies to raise rates 20 percent a year, was postponed in the House Thursday morning. By noon Crist reasserted his distaste for the legislation.

�I think a bill like that, that would increase rates like that in the insurance industry, is not good for the people of our state,� said Crist.

The governor called a special session of the legislature in 2007 to lower insurance rates. Some lawmakers who voted with the governor�s wishes now say it�s the worst decision of their legislative careers.

Two proposed constitutional amendments that would make Florida elections more competitive are being challenged by the state legislature.

The proposed amendments aim to end gerrymandering, a practice of drawing legislative and congressional districts to manipulate the outcome of elections. Legislative leaders want to add their own constitutional amendments to the ballot that, if approved, would trump the two amendments placed on the ballot by voters� signatures. The legislative plan would allow gerrymandering in an effort to ensure minority representation. Representative Geraldine Thompson says legislative leaders are using minorities as a scapegoat to ensure Republicans keep control of both chambers.

�This is an obvious attempt to use racial and ethnic minority members of the legislature to do the dirty work of the people who are in power and who will not concede and who will not allow the people who are in the state of Florida to take politics out of redistricting,� said Thompson.

Every ten years Florida�s districts are redrawn. Democrats held control of the state House and Senate until the 1990s, when districts were drawn to favor Republicans.

Kids wore green to the state capitol today to celebrate Earth Day.

Governor Charlie Crist joined environmentalists to encourage kids to do their part to preserve Florida�s natural beauty. Crist told the students not to take nature for granted.

�We have a duty to be good stewards, to be good stewards of this beautiful state that we love and care for so much and I know that as we continue to do that Florida will continue to prosper. I love Florida, La Florida, the state with the prettiest name. The prettiest place on the planet,� said Crist.

Today marks the nations 40th Earth Day. The day of recognition was created to raise awareness of pollution and destruction man was causing the environment.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney is throwing his political weight behind Marco Rubio in Florida�s highly dramatic US Senate race.

Cheney made his announcement today and used the occasion to encourage Rubio�s rival, Governor Charlie Crist, not to run as an independent. Cheney�s comments didn�t seem to bother Crist.

�Sounds like another Washington Politian trying to tell Floridians what to do.�

Crist has until April 30th to decide if he will run as a No Party Affiliation Candidate. The latest poll shows Crist losing in a primary, but winning as an independent.

At a time when public schools are facing cuts or, at best, treading water, private schools are getting an extra 22 million dollars from the state. Governor Charlie Crist signed the legislation diverting the money today. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the new law also contains automatic increases in state funding for private schools.

A month ago, hundreds of private schools kids and their teachers came to the Capitol to show their support for public funding of their schools.

On Thursday, they got the ultimate show of support from Governor Charlie Crist. He signed into law legislation making an additional 22 million dollars available to private schools from corporate tax credits.

Under the plan, corporate and other taxes due the state are diverted to a private account. Critics say the diversion hurts public schools, but the Senate sponsor says it saves the state money.

�It doesn�t take away money from public schools,” Sen. Joe Negron (R-Port St. Lucie) said. “It actually saves us money. Because it�s much less expensive than having a student in public schools.�

While the program only gives private schools 60 percent of the per student total given to public schools, that percentage will rise to 80 percent over time. The bill also automatically increases the total amount available as money runs out.

�I don�t think it�s an entitlement at all,” Rep. Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel) said. “I think this bill is about empowering families. This is about giving families a choice.�

Religious leaders praised the increase. So did several students.

�I was getting picked on a lot on my bad grades,” Denisha Merriweather, a private school student from Jacksonville said. “But when I transferred to a private school, the influence was very positive. I was getting help from my peers.�

Teachers Unions say they will continue to opposed the plan until public schools are fully funded.

More than 27-thousand students are enrolled in the program.

Bankers in Florida have been pushing legislation to reduce the amount of time it takes to foreclose on a home, but concerns seemed to have stopped the legislation dead in its tracks. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, a busload of home owners facing foreclosure came to the Capitol today to drive a stake in the heart of the bill.

Florida bankers have been trying to get lawmakers to reduce the time it takes to foreclose from as long as two years to as little as 90 days.� The proposal has upset homeowners who are facing foreclosure from across the state.

They came to the Capitol with signs and stories of being mislead and mistreated.

�Before this debacle happened in my personal life, I had never paid a bill late,” homeowner Lisa Epstein said.

Lisa came from Palm Beach. Elisa Slack from Pensacola.

�You could lose your house in as little as 30 days without having to go to court,” Slack said. “So you wouldn�t even get heard by a judge. Who wins in that case? The banks do.�

After telling their stories, organizers gave them their marching orders.

�Every single one of you are going to go and meet your legislators,” attorney Mark Weidner said. “You�re going to explain to them the problem, you�re going to tell them why you are up here.�

Inside the Capitol, they searched for friendly faces.

The legislation is all but dead here on the Capitol�s fourth floor. The bankers are pleading for mercy, saying �we�re being misunderstood.�

Bankers are defending their push, saying homeowners will decide if a foreclosure gets on the fast track or not. They also argue that foreclosure reform is the path to a healthier economy.

�If we get the property back faster with title, we can pay the condo dues that are owed, we can start maintaining the home, or better yet, sell it to someone who will move in,” Anthony De Marco with the Florida Bankers Association.

While the legislation is on life support, the bankers are also pushing for more judges to handle the backlog of cases.

The legislation could also give some much needed relief to the court system which is backed up with an estimated half a million foreclosure cases.

While a Leon County judge mulls over a motion to drop charges against former House Speaker Ray Sansom for misusing state money, the FBI and IRS are reportedly looking deeper into Sansom�s use of Republican Party donations. As Whitney Ray tells us, Sansom isn�t the only one being fingered.

For the second time since his indictment former House Speaker Ray Sansom, is back in court asking for his criminal charges to be dropped.

The state says he stole six million state dollars to build an airplane hanger for a political contributor, even though the plan was interrupted.

�The crime was committed whether or not the appropriations act or not,� said Meggs.

The judge has yet to rule on Sansom�s motion to dismiss, but even if the judge drops the charges Sansom�s troubles may not be over. Reports of a federal investigation into Sansom�s spending of Republican Party money could land him in the US Courthouse.

Sansom is one of several dozen Republican lawmakers who made hundreds of thousands of dollars in charges on credit cards issued by the party. US Senate hopeful Marco Rubio�s spending may also be under investigation, as well as former GOP chairman Jim Greer, Governor Charlie Crist�s handpicked party chair.

�I don�t know anyone who is happy about that. I think that when ever people make a contribution they expect it to be used to win elections not to live a lavish lifestyle,� said Crist.

The Florida Democrats say the feds have their work cut out for them.

�We are heartened today that the FBI, IRS are stepping in to clean up this Republican culture of corruption,� said Eric Jotkoff, a spokesman with the Florida Democrats.

Neither the FBI nor the IRS will confirm or deny the investigations, but online accounts pin down at least one former Republican Party member claiming questions have been asked.

Politicians joined nurses, firefighters, and work-a-day citizens from Miami-Dade County to turn the Capitol courtyard into a fiesta.

Paella for 3-thousand was the dish of choice. Hundreds of people stood in a line that wrapped around the courtyard, just to get a taste. The people�s governor rolled up his sleeves to help serve the hungry festival goers. Afterward he told reporters he�s hungry to see the legislature�s spending plan. Rumors of Crist vetoing the legislature budget because it will likely stray too far from the spending plan he submitted at the first of the year have been making rounds in the capitol hallways.

�I wouldn�t want to go there yet. I think they are having good negotiations. They�re conferencing now. I�m hopeful they can come to a good conclusion that�s right for the people,� said Crist.

Crist has already vetoed two major Republican bills this session. Lawmakers have until Tuesday to reach an agreement if they plan to end session by April 30th.

The US Senate ballot is getting crowed. As Governor Charlie Crist eyes running as a No Party Affiliation candidate, a new name is entering the race.

Alex Snitker, a 34 year old salesman from St. Petersburg announced his candidacy today in Tallahassee. Snitker is running as a Libertarian. His platform; less government of course.

�I am running on a constitutionally limited federal government. The first thing I�d like to do is abolish the IRS and replace it with a consumption-based tax system, so that no American would pay taxes below the poverty level. The second thing will be term limits. No politician deserves to be in Washington for 30 or 40 years. They need to go up there, make the laws, and come home and live by the laws which they�ve made,� said Snitker.

Snitker hopes to raise two million dollars. If Crist decides to run as an independent then there could be four choices on the November ballot.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist is confirming that he is considering running for the US Senate as an Independent. The confirmation comes on the heels of a poll showing Crist losing the GOP primary but winning in a three-way race between the Democrats, Crist and Republican Marco Rubio. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, Crist could remain a registered Republican and still run with no party affiliation.

Governor Charlie Crist says he is on a listening tour…getting phone calls and text messages asking him to either remain a Republican or run for the US Senate as an independent.

When asked about the Washington establishment wanting him to either drop out of the race or stay in the GOP, Crist minced no words.

�I think I�ll take the advice of the people in Florida, instead of the advice of people in Washington,” Crist said. “They�ve tried to tell us a lot. I don�t think we need to listen to them.�

The confirmation that he�s even considering a run as an independent comes on the heels of a poll showing Charlie Crist winning a three-way race. He has stopped running this ad bashing his GOP Opponent Marco Rubio.

Florida Republican Party Chairman John Thrasher believes an independent candidacy will hurt the GOP.

�I think Republicans are going to support the nominee,” Thrasher said. “And I think that�s what Republicans are going to do. That�s why I would encourage him to stay as a Republican.�

Former Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Screven Watson thinks an independent run also hurts his party.

�Some things his done in this session, I think, would drag some Democratic votes away from Congressman Meek,” Watson said.

Under state law, Charlie Crist would be able to keep his Republican registration and still file for the U.S. Senate with no party Affiliation. And he�d still be able to keep every dime he�s raised.

Asked if even considering a no party affiliation put the governor in an unusual position, Crist responded…

�These are unusual times,” he said.

Crist has until April 30th to file his paperwork for the US Senate Race.

One obstacle to an Independent candidacy for the Governor is fundraising. National and state parties typically provide millions in support, and Crist would not have that advantage as an independent.

The governor�s plan to end corruption at the Public Service Commission by appointing two new commissioners is being challenged by the state senate. A conformation hearing for the appointees was postponed today. As Whitney Ray tells us, the postponement could be retribution for Governor Charlie Crist�s veto of Senate Bill Six and shopping the idea for an independent run for US Senate.

After a year filled with secret dealings between the Public Service Commission and utility executives, Governor Charlie Crist decided to replace two of the five members.

Crist appointed a former journalist and a business owner this winter� They promptly shot down a combined billion and a half dollar rate hike for Florida Power and Light and Progress Energy.

Tuesday Republican Lawmakers postponed their confirmation hearing. State Senator Mike Fasano says the delay is punishment for keeping electric bills low.

�We are seeing outsiders, and senators, and house members going after those who stopped those rate increases,� said Fasano.

State Senator JD Alexander says the appointees simple don�t have enough experience to be ruling on rate cases.

�These are folks who are populous in background, who don�t have the financial training to really get into a rate filing case, which at time is 14,000 pages worth of testimony,� said Alexander.

But there may be more political factors at play.

The postponement comes just days after Governor Charlie Crist vetoes a top Republican legislative priory and considers bucking his party and running for US Senate as an independent.

Crist says he�s not sure if his actions are holding back the confirmations.

�I honestly don�t know, I don�t believe so, but I don�t know. It�s possible. Anything is possible,� said Crist.

Crist is still holding out hope that a conformation hearing will be rescheduled before session ends.