Montgomery, AL – Outgoing Gov. Bob Riley left a little gift for new Attorney General Luther Strange as he was leaving office - $7.9 million.
The New York Times Regional Newspapers in Gadsden and Tuscaloosa reported that Riley transferred the money to the attorney general's office on the Friday before Riley left office in January.
Norris Green of the Alabama Legislative Fiscal Office said the money was part of payments made to the state by BP following the BP oil spill.
Chief Deputy Attorney General Richard Allen said there were no restrictions on how the money could be spent. He said it's being used to offset an expected shortfall in the attorney general's budget.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)