Pelosi Reacts To Oil Spill Legislation

Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) issued the following statement:

“Today, the House voted for two key measures to more effectively prevent and respond to accidents like the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

“The first bill is designed to develop new methods and technologies to clean up oil spills.  This effort could not be more urgent – especially considering the response to the BP spill has relied on the same methods and technologies used for the Exxon Valdez cleanup 21 years ago.

“The second piece of legislation will help us develop safer drilling technologies and prevent an accident such as the BP disaster from ever happening again.  And it will foster aggressive research and development to develop better blowout preventers, new accident prevention practices, and improved worker safety measures.

“In the wake of the disastrous BP oil spill, it is the responsibility of this Congress to act to hold BP accountable, support the families and businesses of the Gulf, and prepare for unforeseen disasters.  That’s why the House has passed measures to ensure fair compensation to the families of those killed or injured in the BP spill.  That’s why we have worked to ensure aid to the Gulf, tough oversight for BP, and ample resources for the response to the spill. And next week, our efforts will continue with a package of legislation that strengthens safety standards, reforms the Minerals Management Service, and removes the cap on economic damages paid to residents and small businesses by oil companies after oil spills.”

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Feinberg Is Gulf Coast's $20 Billion Man

By Rob Sanna - Talk Radio News Service

Attorney Ken Feinberg, who was recently appointed to monitor the Gulf Coast Claim Facility, told the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday he plans to overhaul the way compensation is being conducted in the Gulf. Feinberg said he plans to tackle the situation by implementing changes that would make compensation faster, more accurate, and more transparent to eligible people affected by the spill.

“Yes the process has to be much quicker, we will accelerate it. It must be more transparent,” he said.

“The data…is inadequate, does not provide proficient sunshine on how BP has been processing claims, we will do a much better job.”

Pledging his independence from the federal government and BP, Feinberg said he plans to establish a centralized claim center, beef up a staff of adjusters and be a constant, visible figure for Gulf Coast residents.

“This is an independent, private program,” he said. “I’m not beholden to the Obama administration. I’m not beholden to BP. I’m an independent administrator calling the shots as I see them.”

Feinberg said the administration will take fraud very seriously and plans to work with the Department of Justice to ensure the legal integrity of the program is not compromised.  

Feinberg also said he would make sure claims involving injuries incurred during the cleanup, as well as the the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion, will be claimable within the program and that injuries that develop further down the road because of exposure to oil could be claimed at that time as well.

“My agreement I have between the administration and BP, at least at the present, I am dealing only with individual and private business claims, no government,” he said. “That might change, but right now that’s the limit of my jurisdiction”

Notes From Today's Joint White House Press Conference

President Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron held a press conference today in the East Room of the White House.

The two leaders, addressing each other on first-name basis, stated that they had excellent discussions and that they still enjoy a truly special relationship. There were jokes about beer and their children before going on to more serious topics. They both honored the sacrifices of the brave soldiers that are fighting together in a series of conflicts around the world.

“Our alliance thrives because it advances our common interest,” Obama said.

He continued to say that we have no closer ally and stronger partner than Great Britain. Prime Minister Cameron called it an “absolutely essential relationship.”

Both the United States and Great Britain are taking action on fiscal responsibility. Both leaders said the economic goal will take a strong and stable growth process and a sustained economic recovery willbe the effects of “a reformed financial system that will never again be open to the abuses of the past.”  

In their opening remarks the two leaders brought up the many isues concerning the Middle East, specifically with Iran and Afghanistan.

Both President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron said they want to see a secure, peaceful and stable Middle East.  First of all, Obama and Cameron need Iran to give up their pursuit of nuclear weapons and resume negotiations with the international community.  It is not too late for them to come to the table, however, if Iran chose not to, the sanctions package set by the UN Security Council will be implemented with vigor.

In terms of Israel and Palestine, Prime Minster Cameron refered to the situation as a desperate need for a two-state solution. He added that it is necessary for it to provide security, justice and hope.

“It is time for direct talks, not least because it is time for each, Israel and Palestine, to test the seriousness of the other,” Cameron said.

Focus then shifted towards BP and the alleged connection they may have with the release of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber.  When asked about opening a government investigation around the release, President Obama said,”All of us in the United States were surprised, disappointed and angry about the decision, so we welcome any additional information.”

Prime Minister Cameron made it clear that he did not agree with the decision.

“I’ve asked the Cabinet Secretary today to go back through all of the paperwork and see if more needs to be published about the background to this decision,” Cameron said. “I don’t need an inquiry to tell me what was a bad decision. It was a bad decision.”

There were also questions regarding the extradition of computer hacker Gary McKinnon, and both leaders acknowledged the discussion, but did not make any specific comments. Instead they talked about the importance of cooperation in terms of dealing with cyber security.

Well “Integrity Test” Will Continue In 24-Hour Increments

by Miles Wolf Tamboli - Talk Radio News Service

Despite BP Senior Vice President Kent Wells’ declaration this morning that the well tests, which have been successful in temporarily stopping the oil leak into the Gulf of Mexico, National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen has released a statement telling the press that, “The ongoing well integrity test will continue until 4 p.m. EST [Sunday], with the potential for additional extensions in 24-hour increments.”

Allen released Saturday that the federal government had approved a 24-hour continuation of the well “integrity test,” but assured that, “as a condition of the extension, the US government has required significant new monitoring and periodic evaluation and approval by [its] science team.”

The Deepwater Horizon Response Joint Command has been conducting tests since Wednesday on a 75-ton “stacking cap” capable of either siphoning off crude oil from the broken Macondo well, or possibly of capping the well altogether.

The team has been monitoring the pressure of the oil building underneath the cap, and lower than expected readings are being examined in order to determine whether another leak has sprung elsewhere, or the oil reservoir has simply been depleted by the nearly three month long oil leak, according to the administration’s point man.

“Progress also continues on the two relief wells the federal government has required BP to drill. The relief well remains the ultimate step in stopping the BP oil leak for good,” said Allen.

Allegations Surface, BP May Have Arranged Release Of Terrorist For Oil Deal

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) sent a letter Tuesday to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking her to investigate reports accusing BP of arranging the release of convicted terrorist Abdelbaset al-Megrahi in order to finalize a $900 million drilling deal with Libya.

“If BP is found to have helped free this mass murderer… [then] any money it makes off that oil is blood money,” said Menendez during a press conference Wednesday.

The Scottish government freed the Megrahi on compassionate grounds in August 2009, 2 years after BP started exploring the possibilities of drilling in Libya. The quartet of Senators is pushing the State Department to investigate the situation and to reveal exactly what role BP played in Megrahi’s release. 

“We have a clear message for BP. Until this deal is properly investigated this project off the coast of Libya should not break ground. If BP is truly dealing in good faith and has nothing to hide, it should cooperate with such an investigation,” said Lautenberg.

BP is set to begin drilling off the Gulf of Sidra next month.