GULF SHORES, Ala. – Gulf Shores Mayor Robert

Craft is heading to Montgomery on Tuesday morning to discuss the

looming trial in BP.

The New Orleans trial is expected to start on

Feb. 27, but a settlement in the case is expected. A settlement,

Craft told the city council just before adjournment Monday night,

likely portents an unfavorable outcome for the Gulf Coast.

Any settlement might have a bearing on the

pending RESTORE Act which is legislation to funnel 80 percent of

any fine money to the five states hit by BP spilling millions of

gallons of oil into the Gulf.

“If it settles before the RESTORE Act passes

then we’ve got a steeper hill to climb because the money is already

in place in Washington and we’ll have to fight to get our fair

share of it,” Craft said. “We’re doing all we can. I am not at all

optimistic that it is going to pass.”

Craft will meet with state Attorney General

Luther Strange and members of Gov. Robert Bentley’s staff to

discuss the lawsuit and the RESTORE Act.

“We are still trying to figure out a way to

get that money that BP’s going to have to pay anyway from fines

related to spilling oil within our Gulf directed back to the Gulf

Coast,” Craft said. “If the RESTORE Act doesn’t pass then the money

will end up in Washington and they’ll be using it for a federal

reduction of the deficit up there and I doubt very seriously we’ll

see any of it back down here.”

Both Alabama senators, Jeff Sessions,

R-Mobile, and Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, received praise from

Craft for their work on the RESTORE Act.

“It is a vitally important piece of

legislation,” Craft said. “Our senators Shelby and Sessions are

working really hard, Shelby with Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, the

two most affected states by this event. They are working real hard

to try to pull stuff together.”

Craft said city leaders have also been

reaching out to the northern visitors who winter here to contact

their senators seeking support.

“We have reached out to our snowbirds, we’re

going to all the snowbird meetings and talking to them about

talking to their senators about the importance of this to our

community,” he said. “They’ve all been really gracious and reacting

to try and help us.”

Out of town property owners are also being

encouraged to contact elected officials to voice support the

RESTORE Act.

“I don’t’ think any closely related to it

feels like the five states are going to prevail over 45," Craft

said. "Everybody’s looking for some of this money. We’re doing

everything we can.”