Gulf Coast Newspapers - Folsom Talks OIil Spill, State Budget

News Article

By Shea Zirlott

Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom was the guest speaker at the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce's Impact 2010 luncheon on Monday at the Foley Civic Center.

Lt. Gov. Folsom spoke on the 2011 legislative outlook for Alabama, along with the economic outlook for the state which relies heavily on the revenue this area generates in order to function efficiently.

Anthony Kaiser, chairman of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, introduced Folsom as a "friend of South Baldwin County."

According to Folsom, this area accounts for 25 percent of the revenue that goes to the state from sales taxes.

"The importance of south Baldwin County to the rest of the state was witnessed this year in tourism dollars. I know what you have gone through this past year with the oil spill. I know that just about all of your businesses are suffering, taking a hit." said Folsom.

He also said the legislature plans to try to mend things in this part of the state in their upcoming session.

Due to the economic downturn in recent years, the education budget throughout the state is in dire straights, according to Folsom.

Folsom stated while he will not be directly responsible for deciding where any money from BP goes, he hopes that the majority of the money will benefit this area which was hit the worst by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

"We are counting on BP, the question is how it is going to be allocated,"Folsom said. He also stated that since this area was most impacted by the oil spill that most of the money received from BP should go to this region.

"Most of that money should be designated to this region when it comes down to it. This is the area that took the hit, so this is the area where the money should go without question," Folsom said.

He said "a lot of people really need that. A lot of people need that just to survive. They need it just to make it through the next year."

Folsom said he has faith in the ability of this region to bounce back stronger than before though. Seafood may have issues in years to come, but the beaches are still going to be just as beautiful and attract just as many tourists.

"I think that there is no question about it, like the governor said, that the Gulf Coast area will come back bigger and stronger under the direction of this commission and with the stake keeping pressure on them making sure we receive our fair share of funding that is coming to us, and this area," said Folsom.

The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce holds Impact lunches five times each year. The next luncheon will be held Dec. 2. The guest speaker will be Jim Ridling with the Alabama Insurance Commission.

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