States Demand BP Money

States with shorelines slimed by the massive oil spill in the Gulf are preparing to send BP a bill for the lost tourism revenue. Alabama’s government was already running on empty thanks to the recession, and the state’s superintendent said the education budget has been cut by 7.5 percent already, with the rainy day funds used up. Florida is asking BP to put $2.5 billion into an escrow account to pay for potential losses—state officials say the blow to tourism and fishing has been devastating. On Thursday, BP for the second time gave $25 million each to Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. Meanwhile, many miles from the spill, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended BP CEO Tony Hayward, reminding listeners on a local radio show that the exec didn’t blow up the well himself.