(Jackson, MS) -- Republican Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour is asking Jim Hood, the state's Democratic attorney general, to put the brakes on filing suit against BP. Barbour told Hood he wants the on-going claims process to have a chance to work. The governor fears a lawsuit could interrupt the payment of claims. He says suing BP now "is not in the interests of Mississippi and its fishermen." Barbour says to date, BP has paid 65-million dollars to the state to offset costs incurred by agencies, local governments and to aid in tourism promotional campaigns.
