Republican from Texas, Joe Barton Apologizes to BP CEO Tony Hayward

  BP CEO Tony Hayward was on Capitol Hill yesterday, where he was testifying before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on “The Role of BP in the Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill.”

Although it was quite a spectacle watching Hayward arrogantly dodge questions from lawmakers, the show was literally stolen by Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the committee, who apologized to Hayward for what he described as a “shakedown” at the White House yesterday. He was referring to the deal worked out between the Obama administration and BP to set up a $20 billion fund administered by a third party to pay for damages from the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

“I’m ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday,” Barton said. “I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown, in this case, a $20 billion shakedown.

Republicans often believe that such things should be left to the courts, which would undoubtedly delay payment to the workers and business in the gulf region for weeks, months or even years forcing most to lose their livelihoods, and potentially their homes and savings.   Mr.. Barton was subsequently forced  by the Republican party to issue an apology for his remarks.  According to the Associated Press, Barton has taken more than $100,000 in political contributions from oil and gas interests since the beginning of 2009, more than all but one other member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. See the video of Mr.. Barton’s speech below:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Short URL: http://www.oceanpowermagazine.net/?p=1648

Posted by admin on Jun 18 2010. Filed under Latest Ocean News, Ocean Environment, Ocean Industry, Policy & Regulation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.