Deepwater Horizon Widows Seek Compensation For Pain And Suffering

By Miles Wolf Tamboli - Talk Radio News

Shelley Anderson and Natalie Roshto, the wives of two men killed in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig explosion, said during a hearing with the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that BP should be required to compensate the affected families for non-economic losses incurred in the disaster, such as loss of care, companionship and comfort.

The Deepwater Horizon widows made their point clear: Economic compensation is not enough. 

“It’s not just a job,” said Mrs. Anderson. “His job is a husband, and his job is a father too … I’d give it all back to have him come home even if he was jobless.”

The Death on the High Seas Act, passed in 1920, limits responsible parties’ liability to pecuniary damages such as burial costs and financial support. There have been numerous calls for its repeal in the wake of the massive oil spill off the Gulf Coast.

“Not to recognize pain and suffering - if someone is working at sea or if someone is working on land - strikes me as being incredulous,” asserted Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).

“Now I have to make sure that I’m giving Blaine the support of both parents - a father and a mother,” added Roshto; “I celebrated Father’s Day this year … now I am the mother and the father.”

Blowout Prevention Act Must Be Met With Bipartisan Support Says Republican

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service 

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said Tuesday at a House Energy and Commerce Committee meeting that new legislation to prevent future oil well blowouts deserves bipartisan support.

Despite criticism that the bill does not clearly define “high-risk” oil wells, the Republican said it’s an issue that everyone needs to pay close attention to.

“We want to improve safety procedures,” Barton said. “We want to make it possible to continue drilling, both in an environmentally safe and economically positive way…We stand ready to work in a bipartisan basis.”

Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes suggested to the committee that America take example from European countries like Norway who have similar safety regulations already in place.

“I think we can learn from each other, and we need to both have better performance standards but also prescriptive standards where appropriate,” said Hayes. “Personally, the sense I have is that Norway [has] put in place perhaps better systems at this point than we have and that’s not acceptable. We need to be leading the world here, in terms of safety.”

Feinberg Outlines Reimbursement Process For Gulf Coast Victims

Kenneth Feinberg, the administrator of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund, outlined the process for reimbursing business owners hit hard by the oil spill in the Gulf Coast during his testimony Wednesday before the House Small Business Committee.

Mr. Feinberg said there are two important prerequisites for securing compensation through the fund.

“One, is the claim eligible, is it even appropriate to file a claim.  Even if you have an eligible claim, corroborate it.  You have to corroborate your claim.  You can’t come in and say ‘I’m out of work,’ ‘I’m losing $5 thousand a month, pay me.’  Show me you are out of work,” said Feinberg.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) asked what can be done for motel and restaurant owners who live in his district, where no tar balls have rolled up on the beaches, but because of perception tourism is down 50 percent.

“This is a very tough issue, I mean there is not enough money in the world to pay every single small business that claims injury no matter where or when,” Feinberg responded.

Feinberg will draw from $20 billion escrow fund established this month to offer small businesses long-term lump sum payments instead of month-to-month emergency payments. There are currently 35 claims locations located in the Gulf Coast Region. Claims can also be filed online.

“I welcome and urge all eligible claimants to file a claim with this facility that has been established under my direction,” Feinburg said. “Anybody, any private individual, or company who feels that they have a valid claim to draw out of this facility, should file a claim.” 

CBO Projects Lower Living Standards If Current Laws Are Not Modified

By Sarah Mamula - Talk Radio News Service

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Douglas W. Elmendorf announced Wednesday that the CBO’s most recent projections offer a bleak future for the nation’s standard of living and it’s federal debt.

According to a report released by the CBO, federal debt will hit 62% of the United States’ GDP by the end of 2010, a percentage not reached since the aftermath of WWII. If current laws are not modified, the CBO projects that federal spending on healthcare programs will grow from about 5% of GDP today, to nearly 10% by 2035.

“Reaching agreement on longer term reductions in spending or increases in taxes or some combination as quickly as possible would support the economic recovery,” said Elmendorf.

The CBO Director said there are two scenarios that will work to prevent such projections from becoming a harsh reality. The “extended-baseline scenario” would implement a steadily increasing average tax rate. In addition, rising tax rates and provisions in the newly passed healthcare bill, the CBO projects that revenue would grow to 23% of GDP by 2035. 

Under an “alternative fiscal scenario,” major changes in current legislation would have to take place. According to the CBO, under this plan “most of the provisions of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts would be extended, the reach of the alternative minimum tax would be kept close to its historical extent, and that over the longer run, tax law would evolve further so that revenues would remain at about 19 percent of GDP.” 

Dodging giving recommendations to Congress, Elmendorf said that “ultimately, if the debt grows unchecked… it means declines in people’s standards of living.”

Reid, Solis Urge Republicans To Support Extension Of Unemployment Benefits

By Rob Sanna-Talk Radio News

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis held a press conference Wednesday urging Republicans to lift a filibuster on the extension of unemployment insurance.

“Nobody is getting rich on unemployment insurance,” Reid said. “Every day we deny it to those who are out of work, we weaken our nation.”

Reid emphasized that Republicans share the responsibility of helping those who have lost their jobs in the tough economic climate.

“It’s the right thing to do, it’s what’s needed and it’s what the people of this country deserve,” Reid added.

 According to Solis, the lag in the Senate has cost over one million individuals their benefits.

Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who joined Reid and Solis, were also tough on opponents of the extension. Reed went as far as to say people who argue that the unemployment benefits are a disincentive for people to work, “don’t know what they’re talking about.” Stabenow characterized the decision as very simple: “It is a choice between the wealthy and powerful in this country and the middle class families.”

 Reid told reporters that two unnamed Republicans currently support the extension and that recently deceased Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) would have been the 60^th vote.