Oil spill: BP gives $25M to Florida

[seafan]

Source: Pensacola News Journal

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Charlie Crist released the following statement today regarding BP’s financial commitment to cleaning up any potential damage from the Deepwater Horizon rig that continues to gush 210,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico a day:

“This morning Governor Charlie Crist confirmed the announcement by Doug Suttles, CEO of BP, that the State of Florida will receive a $25 million block grant for the initial state and local preparation and response costs for the Deepwater Horizon Response oil spill.

'We will use the block grant from BP to take proactive measures to help prevent the devastating impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” Crist said. “We will continue to be vigilant and take every possible action to protect our beaches and the health and well-being of our residents and visitors.”

The guiding principles of the use of these funds will be:

• Consistent with spirit of Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to protect the coastal zone (to include shoreline, near shore, state waters and subsea zones).

.....

Read more: http://www.pnj.com/article/20100504/NEWS/100504012/1056/NEWS10/Oil-spill--BP-gives--25M-to-Florida

[gratuitous]

1. Isn't that sweet? They "gave" Florida that money

Now, some of the churls in the audience are probably thinking this is hush money or a bribe or something. Perish the thought! BP is just a big ol' slab of generosity.

[Amonester]

7. It's our money ('our' includes FL residents).

BP obviously don't need it since they'R 'givin' it back...

[CatWoman]

2. what about Louisiana????

[Iliyah]

5. Crist has

pulled ahead of Rubio in the senate race in FL.

Maybe they will offer monies to the other states, hopefully, but again I don't know if this compensation is about and what consequences it may have for the people of each state.

I've seen the news which states that BP is offering settlements now in the sum of $5,000 (which is bull crap)

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. al.com reports each of the 4 states got 25 mil.

If that Gulf current swings around Fla and up the Atlantic before the spill is contained.
there will be a lot of more states needing 25 Mil.

[high density]

3. That's like you or I handing over a penny

What an insult.

[zonkers]

4. ditto.

[seafan]

6. Rubio continues drilling push and waffles on 125-mile buffer.

Rubio calls oil spill 'horrifying' but maintains push for more offshore drilling

Marco Rubio called the oil spill a "horrifying" ecological and environmental problem but said it should not derail plans for more domestic oil production as part of an overall energy policy.

Rubio said the immediate focus must be on mitigating the damage and investigating the cause of the problem. But on oil drilling, "I ultimately think that still has to be part of our overall energy strategy."

.....

(So, Rubio currently agrees with Obama on this. Whaddya know.... Don't let him hug you, Mr. President.)



Rubio mum on buffers between Florida and oil rigs

.....When asked about whether he would keep the 125-mile buffer, Rubio said he hadn’t taken a “firm position” on the issue.

“The goal is not buffers, the goal is energy policy that is safe and effective,” he said. “I have not heard anyone say you cannot safely drill for oil because there are thousands of rigs drilling as we speak.”

.....

Will someone please speed up the election so that we can remove this disgraceful attempt to *represent* Florida as a US Senator?

[Iliyah]

9. I thought

Rubio was Florida's darling. That's how the nationwide media has portrayed him, dogging Crist at the same time. Rubio always sounds like a nutty right winger, and still does, and although I'm pulling for Meek, Crist may pull the senate race out and hopefully caucus with the Dems and I'm the first to admit the Dems are FAR FROM PERFECT, but at least the party conducts themselves as a democracy should, i.e. different views, un-liked the Re-pubs who follow marching orders from their king and queen.

[onethatcares]

12. rubio is floriduhs answer to sarahpalin.

and things were going great for him until the jim greer, republican party american express 869.00 hair cuts and a bunch of money got spent for nothing but the candidates personal pleasure, which he paid back as soon as he learned about it.

Charlie has done a few things that were surprising as late. Vetoed the tenure bill, even appointed some folks that actually wanted to represent the people on the PCS, walked away from the party, but I don't see him caucusing with the Dems. (What you might call the Democratic Party, down here is the party of who's republican lite, trust me)

Kendrick Meeks is no where to be seen here in west central Florida. At least that's my take on the matter.

and Welcome to DU:toast:

[flamingdem]

13. This guy has no sense of timing, Dumbo dumbass nt

[salguine]

8. $25 million? They probably had that in their goddamn couch cushions. If they have to

pay, it should hurt. $250 million would be better, and maybe just for a start. And $250 million for Louisiana, and $250 million for Mississippi, and $250 million for Alabama...

[AtheistCrusader]

11. We can benefit from BP's self-interest.

This money could be leveraged by the states in such a way as to protect BP from billions in damages later, so sure, it's self-interest, but if we can prevent billions in damages in the first place, it's helpful, no?

Drop in the bucket, but BP COULD turtle up behind it's lawyers and the states and federal government would be on their own, and that's not helpful either.

[Change Happens]

14. Not enough, send more, MUCH MORE!