Florida CFO Alex Sink has written another letter to Kenneth Feinberg, the independent claims administrator for the $20 billion escrow account for BP oil spill claims. On June 18, she wrote him a letter urging him to base that claims facility in North Florida. Today, she is asking him to implement changes that would improve and expedite the claims process. A copy of the letter follows below: June 29, 2010 Mr. Kenneth Feinberg
Willard Office Building
1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Suite 390
Washington, DC 20004-1008
Dear Mr. Feinberg:

I am very encouraged by your appointment as the independent claims administrator for the new escrow account for Gulf oil spill claims from BP. Your reputation and experience in handling claims in difficult situations like this fairly and efficiently is just what we need throughout the Gulf Region to remedy many of the problems facing our small business owners and citizens. I look forward to meeting you and working with you on behalf of the people of Florida. As a statewide elected member of the Florida Cabinet and Florida's CFO, I oversee the Department of Financial Services (DFS). One of my key roles is to aid consumers through a transparent and accountable process with financial and insurance issues, including insurance claims. My Consumer Services call center receives more than 25,000 calls a year relating to insurance claims issues.

As Floridians began to work with the BP claims process, they turned to my department and our Insurance Consumer Advocate with their questions and frustrations. After having worked with frustrated small business owners for weeks and utilizing my department's insurance claims background, I offer the following recommendations on how you can improve, simplify, and expedite the new claims process.