The American Petroleum Institute today has assembled a giant interactive display on the third floor of the Capitol to educate lawmakers, reporters and the public about what it considers minimally invasive drilling techniques. Its top executives will be in Tallahassee on Wednesday to discuss it.

Several Democratic senators were courted by a lobbyist for the industry as well, at a dinner at the Governor's Club on Tuesday night. Watch for a generous post-session contribution to the Democrats' Victory Fund.

Meanwhile, the list of lobbyists is growing for the mysterious Florida Energy Associates, the entity behind the late-session push for oil drilling off Florida's near shores. The latest entry: Claudia Diaz de la Portilla, the wife of Alex Diaz de la Portilla, the Senate's Republican leader. Claudia DLP was added to the list of 23 lobbyists Friday, April 24. Former Secretary of State Jim Smith was added April 23.

Word is the lobbyists are working on an amendment that would exclude near-shore drilling off the coasts of South and Southwest Florida, leaving the drilling to the Panhandle and Big Bend shores.

Some have wondered WWRD? (What would Ray Sansom have done if he were still in charge?) 

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