(UPDATE - read below) As oil continues to gush out of the well from the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon incident at a level that nobody truly knows, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink today called on the Obama administration to in effect, nationalize BP to allow for the government to take over the response in trying to seal the link (UPDATE: Alex Sink campaign spokesperson Kyra Jennings objects to our description that the CFO wants to "nationalize" anything. She says "she wants the federal govt to act as a better liaison between BP and Floridians").
Sink's call comes as the oil giant said it would be two more days before they attempt their latest gambit to stop the leak, a so-called "top kill" in which heavy drilling mud is pumped into the well, folllowed by cement, to overcome the pressure of the rising oil.
In her letter to the President, Sink asks - where in the heck is the government on this crisis?
"Floridians want to know: Where is the Federal government’s leadership? For the past month, Gulf coast residents have been waiting for BP as they attempt different strategies to stop the leak. I ask you, for the good of the entire region, to take over the process to stop the leak. Within the Federal government alone there are multiple resources that could help develop solutions. Please bring together the best and brightest in the industry both in our country and around the world, including those who have deepwater drilling expertise in Norway and Australia."
Sink is also calling for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Department of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano, and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to attend Tuesday morning's Florida Cabinet officers meeting in Tallahassee. Sink admits it's short notice, so she would be "happy" to request a separate date soon to welcome those federal officials.
