Rick Scott Announces $30 Million Tourism Marketing Grant From BP, Thanks Them For "Stepping Up"

[hatrack]

TALLAHASSEE — The rosy scene bothered Tampa lawyer Steve Yerrid. There was Gov. Rick Scott on Monday, happily announcing a $30 million marketing and tourism grant from BP for seven Panhandle counties, thanking a BP senior executive at his side for "stepping up."

Yerrid, appointed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist last year to serve as Florida's special counsel on the oil spill, says the grant is "chump change" compared to at least $1 billion the state could get from filing a claim against the oil giant.

"The fact that we haven't filed a claim, and (Scott's) been in office since January, to me cannot be adequately explained," Yerrid said. "It's not like Florida doesn't need the money."

Scott has said he does not want to resort to a lawsuit, though his office said Monday they are working on a possible strategy for a state claim — a precursor to filing suit. "My goal is to try to work with BP and make sure we don't end up in litigation," Scott told reporters.

EDIT

http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/gov-rick-scotts-reluctance-to-make-legal-claim-for-oil-spill-spurs-outrage/1163356

[randr]

1. So BP is going to spend 30m to help Scott paint a rosy picture of Florida?

30m that would go far in the continued clean up and help for the families BP destroyed.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. Folks, No need for suntan oil. Our beaches are filled

with an effective, but, natural oil that lovingly coats your skin and protects it from the beautiful, bright, gorgeous Sun we see every day in Florida!

[valerief]

3. It's all good in the Benzene State. nt