More than two years after the BP oil spill ravaged the Gulf Coast, lawmakers reached a deal Wednesday that could spend billions to boost the region’s economy and restore its environment.
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas would share the money under the deal, which would make the bipartisan RESTORE Act part of a transportation bill lawmakers are expected to approve later this week.
“We (got) everything we wanted for the Gulf, so that’s a huge win,” said Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter, who helped negotiate the deal. “People recognize that that disaster was literally on our shores and had a huge negative impact there.”
Clarion Ledger
6/27/12