Republicans Side With Oil Companies, Oppose Raising Cap on Liability

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37207.html

Murkowski blocks oil liability bill


By JAKE SHERMAN | 5/13/10 3:43 PM EDT

Alaska’s senior senator blocked legislation Thursday that would have dramatically increased liability caps on oil companies, in the wake of one of the industry’s biggest disasters.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) objected to a voice vote request by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) on the bill, which would have spiked the maximum liability for oil companies after an oil spill from $75 million to $10 billion. The legislation has significant support from Democrats, and the White House has indicated it backs an increase in liability caps.

But Murkowski said the legislation is “not where we need to be right now” and would unfairly advantage large oil companies by pricing the small companies out of the market. Murkowski did signal that she would be open to "look at the liability cap and consider raising it.” Just not at this moment.

Menendez, speaking to reporters after the bill was halted on the Senate floor, said the opposition indicates that Republicans are on the side of the oil companies, not the American people. There had been no formal floor debate or roll call vote requested on the legislation.

“It’s straightforward, it’s common sense,” Menendez said. “Either you want to fully protect the small businesses, individuals and communities devastated by a man-made disaster — this is not a natural disaster; this is a man-made disaster — or you want to protect multibillion-dollar oil companies from being held fully accountable. Apparently there are some in the Senate who prefer to protect the oil companies.”

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Strange, I haven't heard everyone's hero Bobby Jindal mention this once. Have you?

"You human beings should all should be rounded up and sent to interment camps for wanting to regulate Corporate Personhood and the Most Holy Sacred Mammon Profit Provisions of Republicon Family Pharisee Values."

- Republicon Homelanders

WASHINGTON 5/27: In a move met with glee and anticipation by Congressional Democrats, Senate Republicans have delivered an early Christmas present complete with shiney wrapping paper, a great, big bow and a card reading "Fuck you, taxpayers." Democratic staffers have expressed delighted joyfulness that their opponents in the much-anticipated 2010 elections have publicly and gratuitously sided with big oil and against the American public and the taxpayers. "It's exactly what I wanted!" noted Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Lee Fisher. "How did you know?" squealed Jack Conway, a Senate hopeful from Kentucky. Barbara Boxer noted, "This is really best present the Democratic party has received in years. Thanks, tools."

She knows it's a CAP, not a mandatory minimum, but knuckle-dragging rank-and-filers will hear her specious crap and say, "Yeah! The big, bad Democrats are just trying to screw us little guys. Thank god we have Republicans looking out for us!"

Anyway, small companies need to be held to account, just like big ones. Environmental disasters such as this one should put people behind bars, in addition to making them pay huge penalties. And ten billion isn't enough. One hundred percent of BP's assets should be liquidated with the proceeds going to clean up their mess.

...and work to limit their liability to their victims.


Representatives of the people, my ass. Some Dems are guilty too.