Memorial Day weekend is bearing down on Northwest Florida, and the states public-private marketing corporation still doesnt have the money it needs to air a new TV advertisement showing tourists that Panhandle beaches are unsullied by oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill.

With Floridians increasingly vocal about the failure of government at all levels to control the oil spill in the Gulf, Gov. Charlie Crist has announced two free fishing weekends. Fishers can saltwater fish without a license both Memorial Day weekend and the weekend of June 5 and 6. Florida is the fishing capital of the world, said Crist, Our beaches are clear, the fish are biting, and we invite our friends to enjoy some Florida hospitality.

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack has an op-ed in todays Washington Post arguing that conservatives should oppose Arizonas new immigration restrictions. The latest issue freedom-loving conservatives should be concerned about is the Arizona immigration law, wrote Mack. This law clearly challenges citizens' freedoms, and it does so by putting some Americans at risk of losing their freedoms while others stand little or no chance of being affected.

Has Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene emerged as a major contender in the race? Gov. Charlie Crist seems to think so. The Crist campaign is now running a Google Adword attack on Greene. The ad reads "What has Jeff Greene done? Experience Matters."

The latest forecast for the 2010 hurricane season is mild. That's a big turnaround from previous prognostications, which called for a busier-than-usual summer-fall. The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center on Thursday predicted a 75 percent chance that the season would be less active than normal, with only a 5 percent chance of a more active than average year, according to the News Service of Florida.

The Florida Education Association announced it is backing Democratic candidate David Pleat's bid to knock off Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna. It is a tremendous honor to receive the support and endorsement of the Florida Education Association and the teachers and education staff professionals within District 7 and in the state of Florida, said Pleat. I am forever indebted to our local public schools for the education they provided to my four older children."

Politicians are apparently good at creating jobs and creating a healthy enviroment for business, at least if they happen to own the company. Florida Trend is releasing nuggets from its rankings of the top companies in Florida, and some familiar political names are popping up. Agribusiness Alico made the list -- with Sen. J. D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, serving as president and CEO. So did the Graham Cos., which was founded by Florida political icon Bob Graham.

U.S Rep. Kendrick Meek, the leading Democratic candidate in the race for U.S. Senate, gave President Barack Obama strong praise for launching a six-month moratorium on offshore drilling. "From the beginning, offshore drilling has posed significant threats to our environment and economy, said Meek, who blasted supporters of offshore exploration. The 'Drill, Baby, Drill' faction remains alive and well, and now Florida is paying the price for their desire to score short-term political points."

This afternoon, President Barack Obama is expected to announce in a speech at the White House a moratorium on new offshore energy exploration efforts. This ban will have an impact across the country, from Alaska to Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico. The White House is saying that president is open to lifting the ban after 6 months but needs to further study the issue.

Some good news on the endorsement front for Rep. Carl Domino, R-Jupiter, who is engaged in a tough race to replace retiring Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach. On behalf of the Broward County Firefighters, we are pleased to announce our support for Carl Domino to represent us in the State Senate, said Broward County Council of Professional Firefighters John McNamara. Praising the candidate for his long service in the navy, McNamara said Domino has helped firefighters through his advocacy of the Emergency Dispatchers Bill back in 2008.

Retiring state Rep. Ralph Poppell is going out a winner, with Gov. Charlie Crist's signing of "dynamic scoring" legislation. The Vero Beach Republican has long pushed for a more sophisticated analysis of the fiscal impact of proposed legislation. Currently, legislative staff and state economic estimators focus on the immediate, short-term effects of proposed bills and the budget impact for the upcoming fiscal year. By looking beyond the ramifications on the next budget cycle, legislators will be better equipped to engage in long-range planning, Poppell said.

Rep. Bill Heller, D-St. Petersburg, dodged one Republican challenger only to pick up another. At the end of the first quarter of 2010, Heller has raised almost $50,000 for his bid for a third term. He appeared to be facing a serious challenge from Connie Deneault, a Republican businessman who hauled in more than $51,000 in the month of March.

For all those young adults searching for summer jobs, babysitting is always a viable option. Thankfully, the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering summer dates for its Babysitting Training courses as well as a new 3-day Summer Babysitting Training camp. The traditional training courses are scheduled for June 7, 9, and 28 at the Chapter's headquarters. The new program, the 3-day camp, is offered June 21-23 and July 12-14.

U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, today applauded House Speaker Nancy Pelosis new House rules change that bans all members of Congress from flying first class at public expense. But anyone who knows Posey, knows there's more to that story.

While Gov. Charlie Crist ponders the prospects for a special session, Republican legislators are showing no enthusiasm for the idea. Whether it's oil drilling, renewable energy or political "corruption" -- the three topics cited by Crist -- the governor has yet to specify any specific agenda. And until he does, House and Senate leaders remain cool to reconvening. Freshman Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, went so far today as to predict "we won't have one."