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Florida lawmakers began their annual 60-day session today, uncertain about the economy and state revenues. The day began with bipartisan action to prevent a huge tax hike to businesses, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, some in the GOP are already taking shots at others in their own party.

As the gavels started the 60-day session, there were fewer flowers on desks, a sure sign of the economy. Even the opening prayer got uncharacteristically political.

“Spending money we do not have has enslaved us,” Dr. Mark Cummins with the Ocala Church of Hope said.”We alone created this economic crisis.”

Amid patriotic songs, House Speaker Larry Cretul talked of being more open…and in one breath appeared to take a shot at Governor Charlie Crist’s insistence on using Seminole Gambling cash to fund education.

“If those dollars do come to us, then we’ll put them to good use, but we won’t base our budget on a wink and a prayer,” Cretul said.

And in another rare move for an opening day, the House passed a bill with lightning speed, delaying a hike in unemployment taxes.

“It’s a good example of how, with bipartisan cooperation, we can get things done,” Rep. Ron Saunders (D-Key West) said.

Some argue the House is being two faced…borrowing Federal cash to avoid the hike, then criticizing the feds for spending too much.

“I would say it’s hypocrisy,” Rep. Darren Soto (D-Orlando) said. “Let’s just call it what it is. We cannot on one hand take the bailout money and on the other hand criticize and slap people around.”

So, while day one started with harmony, the next 59 days are likely to be anything but.

For those who rely on the state, it’s going to be hectic, nerve racking and unpredictable.

The session runs through April 30th.

Governor Charlie Crist will emphasis protecting education and ethics in his State of the State address at 6 pm tonight.

Asked what the public should expect from lawmakers in the next 60 days, Crist says he is concerned about the political climate in Southeast Florida, and took a backhand shot at his US Senate Rival.

“Well I think that we’ll have to be very responsible, very prudent with the taxpayers’ money,” Crist said. “Make sure that we have a focus on the economy, on jobs and on education. And make sure that we stay focused on getting rid of this culture of corruption in South Florida.”

Reporter: When you’re saying “culture of corruption in South Florida,” are you referring to your senate opponent?

“Well, I don’t know. I think time will tell that,” Crist said. “But what I’m referring to is the over thirty people I’ve had to remove from office. I think we all know what’s going on primary in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County. Enough is enough. And I think the legislature will really focus on this issue to try to restore some public trust.”

Tonight is Crist’s fourth and last state of the state. He is the first governor in Florida who has forgone a second term in hopes of another office.

The 2010 Florida legislative session began with a victory for businesses and thousands of jobseekers. Lawmakers passed a bill delaying a steep increase in the states unemployment tax. As Whitney Ray tells us, their vote would extend unemployment benefits to 20-thousand Floridians who have run out of money.

With a unanimous vote House lawmakers lightened the burden on struggling businesses fearing a 12 fold increase in the state’s unemployment tax.

“We need this bill, because we need small businesses to succeed in Florida,” said Eric Eisnaugle

The tax was scheduled to jump from 8-bucks an employee to more than a hundred in some cases. Small business owners say to pay it… they would have to lay off some employees.

The legislation sets up an incremental increase playing out over the next two years. In the mean time the state will barrow 2 billion dollars from the federal government to pay claims. Democrats say the delay is a good start, but boarder changes to the state’s unemployment system are needed.

“This is important, but this in not going to fix the problem. This will just delay the fix,” said Democratic State Rep. Ron Saunders.

They want to loosen restrictions to allow more jobseekers to make claims. In a demonstration of compassion House members amended the legislation to allow 20-thousand Floridians whose benefits have run dry to receive eight extra weeks of benefits.

“There are some folks who have maximized everything. We’re just trying to help them out,” said Republican Dave Murzin.

Left on the table is 444 million federal stimulus dollars available to jobseekers.

State lawmakers will begin their annual session in Tallahassee on Tuesday. 2010 brings more challenges than anytime since the Great Depression, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the legislative search for money is on in more ways than one.

The streets of the state Capitol are alive.

To merchants in Tallahassee, the legislative session is worth about 2 million dollars a week.

This flower shop will have one of its biggest days of the year, as well wishers continue a decades-old tradition of giving flowers on opening day.

“We’re very fortunate to have this one day, where the restaurants get it for two months,” florist Katie Addington said.

Lobbyists were walking from one location to another, checks in hand. Lawmakers can’t accept contributions during the session, so the push is on to pick up as many checks as possible.

Attorney General Candidate Dan Gelber was one of three statewide candidates making the rounds. His Republican Counterpart, Pam Bondi, who faces no fundraising restriction, was also in town.

“Meeting a lot of good folks,” Bondi said. “A little money raising.”

Because 2010 is an election year, Democrat Luis Garcia says expect the unexpected.

“When politics get in the way, good government goes out the window.” Garcia said.

In the Capitol, the list of needs outpaces available cash by up to three billion dollars, but Representative Dean Cannon says new taxes aren’t on the list.

“We will find a way to take the dollars that Floridians have sent us and spend them wisely,” Cannon said.

Will there be new revenue?

“I doubt it,” he said.

And if this were NASCAR, the announcer would be saying “Start Your Engines,”  the 60 Day race is about to begin.

Governor Charlie Crist is slated to deliver his State of the State address 24 hours from now at 6 pm Tuesday night. He is expected to stress jobs and ethics in government.

A select house committee is moving ahead with legislation to allow oil drilling off the Florida coast. State Rep. Dean Cannon says it could be four or five weeks before specific language is drafted, but he says it is becoming increasingly clear that residents don’t want to see rigs off the coast.

“What are the different ways you can ensure that you can’t see it from the beach, basically,” Cannon said. “If it turns out to be five miles that’s fine, it may need to be further. There may be other ways to achieve that same goal but the main goal that I think there’s a pretty broad consensus on is make sure we don’t see this from the beach in a way that in any way blights the views cape from our coastline.”

The panel was also told that oil drilling and the environment can co-exist. A previous report by the Century Commission questioned whether there was enough oil in Florida waters to make a difference, but Cannon says we won’t know until someone starts looking.

A plan to keep predators at least 300 feet from children cleared its first committee hurdle in Tallahassee today.

The legislation, which initially was drafted to set a statewide standard on where sex predators could live, now includes no such limitation, but Sponsor Rich Glorioso from Plant City says he doesn’t care where predators sleep, it’s what they do when they are awake that concerns him.

“What we’re trying to do is create a circle of safety around these kids, to protect our children,” Glorioso said. “As we said earlier, where they’re sleeping at night, residential restrictions have been proven they don’t work. Where they’re sleeping is not the important part, it’s what they are doing when they are awake. And so we want to create that circle of safety, that 300 foot circle of safety, around the kids. So if the kids are in a field playing soccer, that predator can’t loiter within 300 feet of those kids.”

Current restrictions on predators have resulted in uneven treatment from county to county, and has forced some predators to live under bridges because there is no suitable housing far enough away from children.

By the end of the month as many as 100-thousand Floridians could be kicked off the unemployment rolls. A program extending unemployment benefits to thousands of Floridians expired Sunday. As Whitney Ray tells us, if Congress acts this week the program could continue without a hiccup.

All eyes are on the US Senate this week as lawmakers consider extending the enrollment period for Emergency Unemployment Compensation. The window closed on thousands of jobless Sunday. But Congress could vote to reopen enrollment.

“There are a couple of different scenarios we’re prepared for. Let’s say Congress passes an extension this week. It’s very likely our customers would feel no effect and experience no lapse in benefits,” said AWI Spokesman Robby Cunningham.

But if no action is taken an estimated 20-thouand Floridians every week would stop receiving checks. By June the number could reach 400-thousand. The Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy says the state would loss millions.

“Consider the unemployment insurance benefits alone we’re talking 30.5 million dollars a week that aren’t in Florida’s economy,” said John Hall, director of the center.

And for every unemployment dollar spent, economists say there’s a dollar 64 cent return in business growth. And, while Congress debates the pros and cons, state lawmakers are considering two bills: one that would stifle a business tax increase aimed at paying claims and another that would pump 444 million dollars into the unemployment checking account.

Lawmakers balked at the money last year because it allowed part-time employees and some people who quit to claim unemployment.

“The people who are complaining about, well its going to cost the employer more money down the road and on and on and on,’ but it just makes no sense for us to leave 400 million dollars on the table,” said State Senator Tony Hill, who is sponsoring legislation that would allow the state claim the extra dollars.

And as lawmakers debate, the unemployment rate continues to rise.

For updates about the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program go to www.floridajobs.org and look under UC Hot Topics.