Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Elmer Phud who wrote (572141)	6/17/2010 1:04:39 PM
From: tejek	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1578299

Barton apologizes, accuses White House of BP 'shakedown' Jun 17, 2010 10:48am (NECN: Washington, D.C.) - A leading House Republican accused the White House of a "$20 billion shakedown" of BP in its agreement to establish a fund for compensating those affected by the Gulf oil leak. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) in his opening statement said he was "ashamed of what happened in the White House" on Wednesday. He was referring to the agreement announced by President Barack Obama, in which BP will establish a $20 billion relief fund for Gulf residents. "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," Rep. Barton said. "The attorney general of the United States, who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigation and has every right to do so to protect the interest of the American people, participating in what amounts to a $20 billion slush fund that's unprecedented in our nation's history, that's got no legal standing, which I think sets a terrible precedent for the future." He said there is "no question" made decisions determined by "objective people" to have compromised safety, and that BP is liable for the damages. But he called for due process to be carried out before such a fund is created. "I'm only speaking for myself -- I'm not speaking for anybody else -- but I apologize," Rep. Barton said. "I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong is subject to some sort of political pressure that is, again, in my words amounts to a shakedown." Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) opened his statement by disagreeing with Congressman Barton's assessment of the relief fund, which is being controlled by an impartial third party. Rep. Barton closed in saying that he stands with Chairman Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) in asking the questions that "need to be asked" to prevent another such oil disaster from occurring. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs issued this statement shortly after Rep. Barton's testimony: "What is shameful is that Joe Barton seems to have more concern for big corporations that caused this disaster than the fishermen, small business owners and communities whose lives have been devastated by the destruction. Congressman Barton may think that a fund to compensate these Americans is a ‘tragedy’, but most Americans know that the real tragedy is what the men and women of the Gulf Coast are going through right now. Members from both parties should repudiate his comments." Material from The Associated Press used in this report. necn.com