A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry
Bid to lift liability cap in spill is blocked
Posted: May 19, 2010
Obama, Democrats blast Republican move; Salazar says regulators were lax
msnbc.com news services
updated 3:45 p.m. PT, Tues., May 18, 2010
WASHINGTON - As an Obama administration official acknowledged lax regulation prior to the Gulf oil spill, Senate Democrats on Tuesday were foiled in their bid to dramatically lift a cap on oil companies' economic liability for spills.
President Barack Obama said he was disappointed that the proposal had stalled in the U.S. Senate, and blasted Republicans he said had stopped it.
"I am disappointed that an effort to ensure that oil companies pay fully for disasters they cause has stalled in the United States Senate on a partisan basis," Obama said in a statement.
"This maneuver threatens to leave taxpayers, rather than the oil companies, on the hook for future disasters like the BP oil spill," he said.
Republican Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma used procedural move to stop the bill from coming to the Senate floor, saying that raising the cap would hurt smaller drillers.
"Big Oil would love to have these caps up there so they can shut out all the independents," he said.
Federal law requires companies to pay for all environmental damage, but economic damages are now capped at $75 million. Some Democrats want to raise the cap to $10 billion, and a few want to take it off completely.
Salazar: Regulators were lax
Also in the Senate Tuesday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar testified that the "collective responsibility" to make sure the disaster is never repeated starts with his department, and specifically, the agency that regulates offshore drilling.
The remainder of the article can be found at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37205691/ns/gulf_oil_spill/
;
As usual, slanted. Here is Inhofe's statement: - Backwards Typist
[ In Reply To ..]As usual, the Prez either doesn't know what went on, or decided to keep the wedge between dems and pubs or try to divide them even further apart (and that includes the people who read those articles).
Opening Statement of Senator James M. Inhofe
Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
"It might come as a surprise to some people in this room, but I want to commend President Obama for his speech on the oil spill last Friday. He didnât waste time pointing fingers, assigning blame, or issuing irresponsible statements against domestic energy production. He said what Iâve said from the very start. Let me quote him. The âmost important order of business,â he said, âis to stop the leakâ¦and we need to stop it as soon as possible.â
The President went on to say that we must âcontain the spill and protect the Gulf Coast and the people who live there.â Again, thatâs exactly what we should be doing. He also mentioned the need to âmitigate the damage caused by the spill,â and to put in place âevery necessary safeguard and protection so that a tragedy like this oil spill does not happen again.â
This is very similar to what I said at our last hearing on the spill. I said that we need to:
⢠Mitigate and contain the environmental impacts;
⢠Provide assistance to the Gulfâs commercial and recreational fishing industries; and
⢠Investigate the causes so we can prevent a disaster of this kind from happening again.
Administrator Jackson, I have great respect for youâand I was pleased with what you said recently about the spill. You said we need a thoughtful response to ensure this doesnât happen again. You said the focus must be on stopping the oil spill and helping the people affected. I couldnât agree more.
I also appreciate your hard work, along with the Coast Guard and NOAA, in approving the testing on the subsea use of dispersants. The early results are encouraging. I also support your diligence in monitoring to ensure that the use of dispersants is effective and environmentally sound.
Based on what Iâve seen thus far, we have agreement on what needs to get done and I hope we can agree on the path forward. Unfortunately, Iâm afraid that this spill has occasioned some fatally misguided legislation, which will make us more dependent on foreign oil.
This Committee exercises primary jurisdiction over the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990. Senator Menendezâs bill, S. 3305, would amend the OPA. He may not know it, but his bill is a big help for big oil companies, such
as BP, and for foreign and state-owned oil companies.
S. 3305 would make offshore production for small- and medium-sized independent producers economically
infeasibleâthey would be forced out of the Gulf. We canât forget that the independents produce 63 percent of the Gulfâs natural gas and 36 percent of its oil. If S. 3305 became law, their business would be swallowed up by the likes of BP and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation. How would that help address the spill? How would that lessen our dependence on foreign oil?
We experienced something like this in 1989 with the Exxon-Valdez oil spill. Remember that that incident was different from what are dealing with now. Exxon-Valdez was the name of the tanker that crashed in Prince William Sound. It was a transportation accident.
I was on the House Transportation Committee at the time. Much to my dismay, environmental groups politicized the accident; they exploited it to achieve their goal of shutting down domestic oil production. Of course, the irony is that we are more dependent on foreign oil. Companies moved their operations overseas. Whatâs more, we now have more tankers coming to port, which increases our risk of oil spills.
Yesterday, President Obama announced plans to establish an independent commission to comprehensively investigate the causes of this spill. Madame Chairman, letâs address the urgent needs of the moment. And then, after that, when we have all the facts, we can draft the appropriate response, one that will protect the environment and lessen our dependence on foreign oil. We can do both and I hope we will do both. "
Maybe I'm reading it wrong but this bill was not blocked. - Backwards Typist
[ In Reply To ..]S3305 was set up as an amendment under the Financial Responsibility Act. It was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. I don't see where there was any vote taken on it yet (my earlier message).
IMHO, big oil should pay the total cost of any oil spill created by them. Right now they pay $75M towards cleanup and the Mendendez bill wants it upped to $10B, but they should NOT limit any bill to dollar amounts. Even the BP spill may cost over $10B...so if this bill would pass, all BP has to do is pay the $10B cleanup and they're done. If it's over that amount, the rest would still be on our shoulders.
Here is the bottom line.... - sm
[ In Reply To ..]If U.S. officials had followed up on a 1994 response plan for a major Gulf oil spill, it is possible that the spill could have been kept under control and far from land.
The problem: The federal government did not have a single fire boom on hand.
Similar Messages:
Please Lift Up A Dear Friend Of Mine. She HasAug 11, 2010
lung cancer on top of emphysema and is facing a very serious surgery tomorrow (Thursday). Please pray for the surgeon and her as the fights this horrible disease. ...
The Oil SpillJun 14, 2010
This is an email forward I received today. I searched and found another related article, see the link at bottom. ***** Email Forward ***** First fact, the original estimate was about 5,000 gallons of oil a day spilling into the ocean. Now they're saying 200,000 gallons a day. That's over a million gallons of crude oil a week! I'm an engineer with 25 years of experience. I've worked on some big projects with big machines. Maybe that's why this mess is so clear to m ...
Dems To Lift Debt Ceiling By $1.3 TrillionDec 10, 2009
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30417.html ...
Iran: Lift Sanction IMMEDIATELY Or No DealApr 09, 2015
Tehran will not sign a final nuclear deal unless world powers simultaneously lift economic sanctions imposed on Iran, the nation's president said Thursday. The United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany — the so-called P5 +1 group — reached an understanding with Iran last week on limits to its nuclear program in return for lifting crippling economic sanctions. The U.S. has previously said the sanctions would be lifted in phases, but the details have ...
BP Oil Spill Becoming PoliticalMay 26, 2010
I never saw James Carville so furious and I don't blame him. This is oil spill is absolutely unforgiveable. The marshlands are being destroyed and probably the whole fishing industry for a few years, if not more than decades. I was reading other reports yesterday and I always read the poster's comments. Some say stop depending on oil and depend on nuclear, solar, and wind. That's easier said than done. Solar and wind are expensive and not a guarantee for northern climates. N ...
Results Of Oil Spill. Jun 06, 2010
Dear MoveOn member, We struggled with whether or not to share this photo, taken of a bird on the beach at East Grand Terre Island, LA on Thursday. It's hard to look at. But we have to face where our addiction to oil has taken us—and this photo brings that home: (Click here if you can't see the image) The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is heartbreaking—but if an image like this can do anything, it can sear into our minds the fact that we need a real plan to get ...
Reports Signal Lift In U.S. Economy. Americans More Optimistic, Nov 27, 2012
AP WASHINGTON — American companies in October increased their orders of machinery and equipment that signal investment plans by the largest amount in five months, a hopeful sign for future economic growth. Two other indicators out on Tuesday — private surveys of home prices and consumer confidence — rose briskly, more signs of optimism. Consumer confidence rose in November to its highest level in almost five years, the Conference Board said. Orders for core capital ...
Appeals Court Refuses To Lift Hold On ObamaMay 26, 2015
A federal appeals court refused Tuesday to lift a temporary hold on President Obama's executive action that could shield as many as 5 million immigrants illegally living in the U.S. from deportation. The U.S. Justice Department had asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a Texas judge who agreed to temporarily block the president's plan in February, after 26 states filed a lawsuit alleging Obama's action was unconstitutional. But two out of three judges on a c ...
Some Politfacts On The Oil Spill StatementsJun 10, 2010
Different statements made by goverment officials, TV commentators, etc. Very interesting. If you click on the meters or the links below the meters, you can read why this site has rated the statements as they did. http://www.politifact.com/subjects/oil-spill/ ...
RE: Oil Spill. Don't Bother Reading If You AreJun 10, 2010
their pocketbooks. June 10, 2010 Dear Friend, I am a fourth-generation shrimper from the Gulf of Mexico and today I was arrested and charged with unlawful conduct for pouring oil on myself at a Senate Energy Committee. I was protesting Senator Lisa Murkowski's refusal to make BP pay for the disaster that is devastating shrimping communities across the Gulf Coast. Just imagine this: BP can get away with pouring millions of gallons of oil in our seas and I get arrested f ...
Boehner: Government--i.e. Taxpayers--Should Help Pay For Oil SpillJun 10, 2010
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/boehner-government--ie-taxpayers--should-help-pay-for-oil-spill.php?ref=fpa ...
Kevin Costner Helps With Oil SpillJun 21, 2010
At least he is trying to help. interesting article, especially the part where he says his machine has been tied up in beaurocratic red tape--what a shock that is. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/20.../14457956.html ...
Home Remedy For Finger Polish Spill??Jan 03, 2011
My daughter just spilled dark red nail polish on my carpet. Alcohol is helping get it out, but any other ideas?? Thanks.. ...
Obama's Alleged Slow Response To Oil Spill -May 02, 2010
Obama not slow in his response to oil spill ...
BREAKING: Massive Solar Spill In ColoradoFeb 23, 2014
Have a nice sunny day, Colorado. ...
Oil Spill In Canada On Tuesday Spills 200,000 GallonsJan 25, 2017
This is one thing we have to look forward to. After it is all said and done, there will be 50 jobs out of the pipeline Trump wants to go forward with. The taxpayers who live where the oil spills happen will pay to have it cleaned up, not to mention how harmful it is to the animals and environment. Why would we want to go back to making fossil fuels are prime source of energy anyway? So we can make money! Lots of money! ...
BP Buys Google, Yahoo Oil Spill Search Terms Jun 08, 2010
BP buys Google, Yahoo oil spill search terms By Hibah Yousuf, staff reporterJune 7, 2010: 6:37 PM ET NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- As BP continues to try to stop the oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, the energy giant is also dealing with a public relations nightmare. That's why the company is snapping up search phrases like "oil spill" and "oil spill claims" on Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) and Yahoo (YHOO, Fortune 500). The strategy, says a company spokeswoman, aims to "assist those w ...
Like Trump, "The Base" Has Become A Liability The GOP Is Trying To Sideline,Jan 21, 2013
x ...
BP Chief Tony Hayward Sold Shares Weeks Before Oil SpillJun 08, 2010
The chief executive of BP sold £1.4 million of his shares in the fuel giant weeks before the Gulf of Mexico oil spill caused its value to collapse. By Jon Swaine and Robert WinnettPublished: 12:10AM BST 05 Jun 2010 Tony Hayward cashed in about a third of his holding in the company one month before a well on the Deepwater Horizon rig burst, causing an environmental disaster. Mr Hayward, whose pay package is £4 million a year, then paid off the mortgage on his family&rs ...
Michael Steele To Barack Obama: Stop Playing Golf Until Oil Spill EndsJun 22, 2010
This is sooooo stoopid!!! What do they want the President to do? I guess the President needs to sit at his desk 24 hours/day. After all, he can only handle one catastrophe at a time. I think our President needs to move his office and staff to a boat and park it next to the gusher. Hopefully, that will make people happy. I guess Republicans have forgotten how many days Bush spent at his Texas ranch. Last week, it was an ad. This time, it's a statement from the GOP chairman. O ...
Blocked Tear DuctNov 18, 2010
Has anyone had this problem? Just been diagnosed in one eye. Only have upper punctum as lower closed many years ago for dry eyes. Now having the opposite problem with continuous tearing running down cheeks. I know of one person who had surgery for this problem, but it did not work. ...
Jobs Bill BlockedJun 18, 2010
Jobs bill blocked in Senate By Lori Montgomery and Brady Dennis Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, June 18, 2010 The Senate effectively rejected a slimmed-down package of jobless benefits and state aid late Thursday, rebuffing President Obama's call for urgent action to bolster the economic recovery. Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) voted with a united Republican caucus to block the approximate ...
PA Voter ID Law Has Been Blocked For Nov ElectionOct 02, 2012
It will go into effect next year, provided court-mandated criteria are met. PA Governor Tom Corbett: "Voter ID -- which is going to allow Gov. [Mitt] Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania -- done." Not so fast, gov. UNdone. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gofwU6p1wVa1q_XloJpJkhL2jy8Q?docId=7eb8b0ee54b0499c9caa9776c1eba958 ...
FBI Blocked In Corruption Probe InvolvingApr 21, 2014
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/13/fbi-blocked-in-corruption-probe-involving-sens-rei/?page=all • Whether both or either politician sought or received money or other benefits from donors and/or fundraisers in connection with doing political favors or taking official actions. • Whether Mr. Lee provided accurate information when he bought, then sold a Utah home for a big loss to a campaign contributor and federal contractor, leaving his mortgage bank to absorb large lo ...
House GOP Blocked Renewal Of Violence Against Women ActJan 05, 2013
[This had been a good, effective law, routinely renewed since 1994.] From MediaMatters.com, link below: American Bar Association Official: "VAWA Has Been The Single Most Effective Federal Effort" Against Domestic Violence. Debbie Segal, chair of the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence, said of the act: "VAWA has been the single most effective federal effort to respond to the epidemic of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in ...
US Senate Republicans Blocked The Veteran's HealthMay 21, 2014
And now they're blaming the President for this problem...I find it sad that they couldn't find room for this in their budget, but had no problem with the cost of the government shutdown. How much did THAT cost? (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republicans blocked legislation on Thursday that would have expanded federal healthcare and education programs for veterans, saying the $24 billion bill would bust the budget. Even though the legislation cleared a procedural vote on T ...
Liberals Who Wanted To Move To Canada BlockedJan 27, 2017
Libs Who Want To Move To Canada Blocked By Its Strict Immigration Policies Liberals seeking to move to Canada because they are unhappy with the election results are finding that Canada won’t take them because its immigration policies exclude those who won’t contribute to the economy. Story at Link. Dang! Maybe we can find another country that will take them. If so, I will personally help them pack!!! ...
U.S. Military Pilots Confirm They Were Blocked From DroppingNov 20, 2015
because they could not get clearance to launch a strike, according to a leading member of Congress.... The policy is being blamed for allowing Islamic State militants to gain strength across Iraq and continue waging terrorist strikes throughout the region and beyond, according to Royce and former military leaders who spoke Wednesday about flaws in the U.S. campaign to combat the Islamic State... “You went 12 full months while ISIS was on the march without the U.S. using that air power an ...
Bloomberg To Donors: Don't Give To Democrats That Blocked The BillJun 12, 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/12/mayor-bloomberg-to-donors-dont-give-to-democrats-who-blocked-gun-bill/ ...
Guess Who Blocked The Paid For Small Business Lending BillJul 29, 2010
Wanna know why? Because extension of expiring tax breaks for the rich (estate tax on amounts greater than $1 million) were not included, so they threw a hissy. Every time Reid offered compromises on other amendments, GOP demands changed (sound familiar?). Now lets see here, true colors shown on this would be anti-small business, anti-tax breaks for anyone who is not rich and anti-jobs creation. Nice job. Oh, lest we forget. Their objections did ...