TALLAHASSEE — A panel of government officials and private citizens Wednesday discussed the idea of getting a big upfront payment from BP and the state taking over claims payments to businesses and individuals who have suffered losses from the company’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force created by Gov. Charlie Crist, though, took no action on the proposal by Tallahassee lawyer Steve Uhlfelder.
“We should look at a way to draw down a lot of money from BP now — 500 million, a billion — and let the state take over this process,” Uhlfelder said. “I really believe this company’s in serious economic trouble.”
Uhlfelder said Florida also should get enough to cover state and local tax losses expected due to declining tourism and property values while BP still has the resources to cover them.
Several other members agreed, including state Sen. Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, and Rep. Michael Horner, R-Kissimmee.
“This $25 million at a time in little drips and drabs I don’t think is cutting it,” Horner said. “Put a few more zeros on there. We should be talking billions.”
“I think we need to get what we can while we can,” said Nelson Mongiovi, director of marketing and development for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Charter boat captain Robert F. Zales II, of Panama City, also liked the idea.
“The people in this state know more how to take care of their people than somebody from Houston, Texas, or Great Britain,” Zales said.
The only opposition came from Attorney General Bill McCollum’s deputy chief of staff, Bill Stewart. He said a state or federal takeover of the claims could mean taxpayers would pick up expenses now being paid by BP.
Crist’s budget director, Jerry McDaniel, said state economists are trying to come up with figures on lost tax revenues.
