Now It Gets Interesting: Rift Grows Between BP And White House Over Cleanup Costs

The Business Insider ^ | 6-9-2010

[Carley]

The maoist wants to make sure nothing gets between his party money and BeePee.

[Wonder Warthog]

"The straw that broke the camel's back: Noise out of Washington that BP ought to pay the salaries of everyone that's lost their job due to the spill."

For the fisherfolk, I agree. But for those out of work due to the moratorium on drilling (and I mean either shallow or deep), the thing to do is end the moratorium (which should never have been implemented in the first place).

[Carley]

Holder the stage for this situation by going down to the Gulf and threatening lawsuits before the cleanup even began.

Stupid is as stupid does

In the end the O ignorance will cost the US taxpayer a large fortune.

[tacticalogic]

Wasn’t there supposed to be some kind of federal cleanup program established after the Exxon Valdez incident that the oil companies had to pay into to fund cleanup of future oil spills?

[Terry Mross]

If he could get BP to pay those salaries he could claim the payrolls are new jobs that he created.

[tacticalogic]

If he could get BP to pay those salaries he could claim the payrolls are new jobs that he created.

He doesn't want BP to pay those salaries. He's going to want BP to fork over the money to the government to dole out as they see fit. Ain't no money changing hands that his hands aren't in the middle of.

[blam]

"He's going to want BP to fork over the money to the government to dole out as they see fit. Ain't no money changing hands that his hands aren't in the middle of."

Yup... union jobs. And, minorities.

[grumpygresh]

BP could act like a Florida physician during a malpractice claim. Many physicians will “go bare”, that is practice without malpractice insurance. If sued, the physician will typically have assets in the form of their home (which cannot be taken by the plaintiff) and other offshore or out of state assets that are safe from civil action. There have also been cases where physicians have declared bankruptcy shortly after being served notice of a lawsuit.
Likewise, zero’s hostile posturing towards BP will make it more likely that BP will attempt to shift assets to the UK or wherever they can shelter their money from a socialist takeover by zero.(yes, they will lawyer up). Then, BP’s US division will be sufficiently drained of cash and unstable that they will declare bankruptcy. zero’s hostile remarks have caused BP’s stock to tank even further than if he had kept his mouth shut. Small consolation for the victims of this disaster.

[HereInTheHeartland]

If this keeps up, Rahm Emanuel might have to start paying rent for his BP apartment.

[businessprofessor]

“Then, BP’s US division will be sufficiently drained of cash and unstable that they will declare bankruptcy. zero’s hostile remarks have caused BP’s stock to tank even further than if he had kept his mouth shut. Small consolation for the victims of this disaster.”

I see a similar scenario. Our dear leader may take direct action (executive order) or prod Congress to take action. Even if no government action is taken, the trial lawyers and states are set to swoop in. BP will need to take defensive actions to stop the assault. It may turn out very badly because the greed of Congress and trial lawyers will force action by BP, possibly yielding much less dollars than a cooperative approach. If BP was a US company, I see a tobacco type settlement in which BP would be saddled for 50 ti 100 years with payments. Of course, these costs will be passed onto customers but the settlement would make the rats feel very good.

[meyer]

...then seize BP a la Chavez.

If he tries that approach, I hope BP torches all of their US assets. I'd rather see them destroyed than give the commie in the white house control. Scorched earth, Baby!!!

[Hoodat]

BP's liability in this case is limited to $75 million per the 1990 Oil Pollution Act. And guess who co-sponsored that act?

Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-7]
Rep Akaka, Daniel K. [HI-2]
Rep Atkins, Chester G. [MA-5]
Rep Bateman, Herbert H. [VA-1]
Rep Bennett, Charles E. [FL-3]
Rep Bentley, Helen Delich [MD-2]
Rep Borski, Robert A. [PA-3]
Rep Bosco, Douglas H. [CA-1]
Rep Boxer, Barbara [CA-6]
Rep Carper, Thomas R. [DE-98]
Rep Chandler, Rod D. [WA-8]
Rep Clement, Bob [TN-5]
Rep Coble, Howard [NC-6]
Rep Conte, Silvio O. [MA-1]
Rep Davis, Robert W. [MI-11]
Rep de la Garza, E. [TX-15]
Rep de Lugo, Ron [VI]
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4]
Rep Dellums, Ronald V. [CA-8]
Rep Dicks, Norman D. [WA-6]
Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-16]
Rep Dixon, Julian C. [CA-28]
Rep Dwyer, Bernard J. [NJ-6]
Rep Dyson, Roy [MD-1]
Rep Eckart, Dennis E. [OH-11]
Rep Erdreich, Ben [AL-6]
Rep Fascell, Dante B. [FL-19]
Rep Fields, Jack [TX-8]
Rep Foglietta, Thomas M. [PA-1]
Rep Ford, William D. [MI-15]
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4]
Rep Gallo, Dean A. [NJ-11]
Rep Goss, Porter J. [FL-13]
Rep Hertel, Dennis M. [MI-14]
Rep Hochbrueckner, George J. [NY-1]
Rep Hubbard, Carroll, Jr. [KY-1]
Rep Hughes, William J. [NJ-2]
Rep Hutto, Earl [FL-1]
Rep Kennedy, Joseph P., II [MA-8]
Rep LaFalce, John J. [NY-32]
Rep Lagomarsino, Robert J. [CA-19]
Rep Lancaster, H. Martin [NC-3]
Rep Laughlin, Greg [TX-14]
Rep Lent, Norman F. [NY-4]
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5]
Rep Lipinski, William O. [IL-5]
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-20]
Rep Machtley, Ronald K. [RI-1]
Rep Manton, Thomas J. [NY-9]
Rep Miller, John R. [WA-1]
Rep Mineta, Norman Y. [CA-13]
Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8]
Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27]
Rep Owens, Major R. [NY-12]
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-3]
Rep Pelosi, Nancy [CA-5]
Rep Pickett, Owen B. [VA-2]
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4]
Rep Richardson, Bill [NM-3]
Rep Rinaldo, Matthew J. [NJ-7]
Rep Saiki, Patricia [HI-1]
Rep Saxton, Jim [NJ-13]
Rep Schneider, Claudine [RI-2]
Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4]
Rep Shumway, Norman D. [CA-14]
Rep Smith, Lawrence [FL-16]
Rep Solarz, Stephen J. [NY-13]
Rep Studds, Gerry E. [MA-10]
Rep Swift, Al [WA-2]
Rep Tallon, Robert M. (Robin) [SC-6]
Rep Tauzin, W. J. (Billy) [LA-3]
Rep Thomas, Lindsay [GA-1]
Rep Torres, Estaban Edward [CA-34]
Rep Torricelli, Robert G. [NJ-9]
Rep Traficant, James A., Jr. [OH-17]
Rep Unsoeld, Jolene [WA-3]
Rep Walgren, Doug [PA-18]
Rep Walsh, James T. [NY-27]
Rep Young, Don [AK-98]

Wow, look at some of those names. Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Barbara Boxer - all of these people signed on as sponsors of a bill which capped an oil company's liability at $75 million for an oil spill.

Democrats, you own this one. This bill was passed unanimously by a Democrat House and Democrat Senate.

[blam]

Thanks, good info.

They'll find a way around it.

[Hoodat]

fyi, Joe Biden was a co-sponsor of the Senate version (S. 686).

[penelopesire]

omg...we should have known. Great info mining! I can’t believe the republicans in Congress haven’t shouted this from the rooftops. I swear,sometimes they are their own worse enemies.