Alabama AG says meeting should signal solidarity among Gulf states, not inverse tone with BP

AGs for 5 states talk legal strategy for oil spill

MOBILE, Ala. — The attorneys general from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas want BP PLC to sign an agreement spelling out exactly what “legitimate expenses” they’ll cover from the spill.

Florida AG Bill McCollum said after Sunday’s meeting in Mobile, Ala., that he doesn’t know if expenses include business losses, protecting environmental areas and lost wages for restaurant workers.

The men say BP executives told them the company would review their request.

The men aren’t going to file a lawsuit yet, but they say they want Gulf Coast residents to know that they will work together to hold BP and other responsible parties accountable.

The AGs also want tap an entire federal oil spill response fund, which is capped at $1 billion per incident.