BP (NYSE:BP) Oil Says No To Florida's $50 Million Request

Florida's Governor, Charlie Crist asked BP (NYSE:BP) within the first month of the massive oil spill for $25 million to pay for advertising promoting how clean their beaches are, BP complied. Crist has asked BP for $50 million more two weeks ago, the company refused.

After the first $25 million was spent, tourism dropped anyway. Crist's main complaint is about how much money BP is using to promote themselves. He talked about how it appears the company is spending a lot on newspaper and television ads plugging their efforts on coping with the oil spill.

Looking annoyed and upset the governor said, " To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement." The state has lined up an expert legal team, " and we're ready if BP doesn't do the right thing." He didn't use the word lawsuit but did continue on saying, " We're trying to force them to do the right thing, like they say they're doing in there commercials."

According to Crist, the whole state has been tarred by the perception that their beaches are tainted. In reality, only 10 percent of Florida's beaches have actually seen any oil. The Panhandle beaches are the only ones that have seen tar balls, thick oil, or tar mats. He claims its destroying Florida's $65 million tourist industry.