CFO SINK URGES PRESIDENT OBAMA TO INTERVENE FOR BETTER OIL SPILL CLAIMS PROCESS

TALLAHASSEE – Florida CFO Alex Sink late yesterday sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging his intervention to improve the claims process for Floridians who were negatively impacted by the BP oil spill and highlighting the concerns she and Attorney General McCollum brought up to Claims Administrator Feinberg about the process.  CFO Sink’s call for intervention into the claims process was sent as the Obama Administration announced they were suing BP and others for violating environmental laws and seeking economic damages under the Clean Water Act.

“A majority of our state’s small business owners and residents have had their claims denied or are still waiting for payment,” wrote CFO Sink. “I truly believe that your intervention is essential to ensure the necessary changes will be made so that the thousands of Floridians whose livelihoods were negatively impacted through no fault of their own receive the answers and action they deserve.”

Yesterday, CFO Sink and Attorney General McCollum wrote to Claims Administrator Ken Feinberg about the challenges and inefficiencies faced by Floridians with the current claims protocol; to read their letter, click here. Since news first broke of the oil spill, CFO Sink has been an outspoken advocate for impacted small businesses who have incurred damages; for more information, visit: www.myfloridacfo.com/oilspill.

A full copy of CFO Sink’s letter to President Obama is printed below.

December 15, 2010

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As I prepare to leave office as Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, I feel it is important to express continued concerns about the claims process for the Floridians who were negatively impacted by the BP oil spill.

I have enclosed a letter recently sent by Attorney General McCollum and myself to Claims Administrator Ken Feinberg describing in significant detail our joint concerns about the inefficient claims process and the negative impact it continues to have on the citizens of our state.

I am writing to urge your renewed attention and swift action for the citizens of Florida and all of the Gulf Coast.  Our residents faced challenges with the economic hardship caused by the oil spill and these challenges are now exacerbated by a claims process that has not delivered the promised relief and has not been what it should for those in need of help.

Of the approximately 150,000 Floridians who have filed claims with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility as of December 4^th under its Emergency Claims Process, only about 60,000 claims have been paid.  A majority of our state’s small business owners and residents have had their claims denied or are still waiting for payment.

I truly believe that your intervention is essential to ensure the necessary changes will be made so that the thousands of Floridians whose livelihoods were negatively impacted through no fault of their own receive the answers and action they deserve.

Sincerely,

Alex Sink

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