Food Stamp Applications Increase

Food stamp applications have gone up 15 percent in the Panhandle. Tourism is down is the Panhandle because of the Deep Horizon oil spill. Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Visit Florida explains:

"The timing of the spill couldn't have been any worse for Northwest Florida," Thompson said of the height of the Panhandle's tourist season. "After two years, volume had started coming back."

36 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters is closed to commercial fishing. NOAA will soon close more after oil has hit the Western coast of Florida. Tar balls have washed up on the beaches of Destin, Florida. The area is known for it's fishing.

Much of the Panhandle's economy depends on tourism and fishing. The oil spill will put many Floridians out of work. It is a bad time for Congress to vote not to extend unemployment benefits.