Ed Martin's INSIDE VENICE FLORIDA Blog          These are all the Blogs posted on Wednesday, 21, 2010. No Drilling Amendment Dead--Here's Why The Miami Herald and St. Petersburg Times reported Tuesday that between Jan. 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010, the oil and gas industry and their affiliated companies donated $278,452 to Florida lawmakers. About $185,800 went to Republicans and $77,000 to Democrats. In the months ahead I am going to explore the impact of money on politics, national, state and local. Amazingly, some people seem to think that Venice Council Members taking contributions from people who have financial interests depend Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the Sarasota Herald Tribune. Read more | 0 comments Posted By Ed Martin at 3:28 PM in Category:Inside Venice Unemployed in Venice/Florida Will Not Receive Extended Unemployment Payments-Legislature No Action At least one Florida lawmaker, state Rep. Kevin Rader, D-Boynton Beach, called on Gov. Charlie Crist, state House Speaker Larry Cretul and state Senate President Jeff Atwater to fix the issue during this week's special session, but that idea went nowhere. The state legislature called an end to the session after less than three hours. That means that thousands of Floridians who have exhausted their normal state and EUC benefits will be denied the federal government's additional lifeline payments. Click Here to Link directly to this article publisheed in the Florida Independent. Read more | 0 comments Posted By Ed Martin at 2:50 PM in Category:Inside Venice