TPMDC Gulf Coast Oil Spill
Offshore Drilling
GOP Oil Bill Would Funnel Drilling Suits To Oil-Friendly Court
An oil rig at Port Arthur, TX
House Republicans are pushing through a series of bills aimed at easing restrictions on offshore drilling this week, but critics warn that buried in the legislation is a provision that would weaken the ability of affected states to take on big oil companies in court.
H.R. 1229, the "Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act," would weaken President Obama's moratorium on deep water drilling, which was imposed in the wake of the BP oil spill, but it also contains a provision that funnels civil suits regarding drilling permits to the Fifth Circuit, which includes Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) is calling foul, arguing that the provision strips states like Florida and Alabama with their own drilling operations of the ability to sue in their own states' courts. According to Deutch, the scheme is especially problematic because the Fifth Circuit Appeals Court has been criticized as especially close to oil companies -- in one recent suit against an oil company, so many judges had to recuse themselves over conflicts of interest that the court didn't have the necessary quorum of judges to hear the case. An investigation by a progressive legal advocacy group, Alliance For Justice, determined that several of the judges have extensive financial holdings in the oil industry and two frequently represented oil interests as lawyers.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Offshore Drilling, Ted Deutch
BP
BP To Cut Tax Bill By $13B But Won't Say What It's Paying IRS For 2010
An explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig
BP plans to cut its overall tax bill by nearly $13 billion by writing off costs related to last year's mammoth oil spill as the Gulf Coast continues to grapple with the devastating environmental and economic costs of the disaster one year later.
The international oil giant suffered a $40.9 billion loss as a result of the oil spill, making its net losses for 2010 a total of $4.8 billion (BP had $36.1 billion in profits before factoring in the spill), according to its annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and analysis by several tax experts consulted by TPM.
Under U.S. corporate law, companies can take credits on up to 35 percent of their losses. In this case, that means U.S. taxpayers are indirectly subsidizing at least part of cleanup cost and the $20 billion fund BP created to compensate people, fisherman and businesses along the Gulf Coast hurt by the spill.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Barack Obama, EPA, Eliot Engel, Energy, Environment, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Justice Department, Tax Breaks, Tax Day
Nuclear Energy
Poll: Support For Nuclear Power Drops, Support For Oil Drilling Up
Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear plant
After the BP oil spill, Americans became increasingly wary of offshore drilling. Now, as Japan struggles to deal with an earthquake-damaged nuclear power plant, a new Pew poll shows a spike in opposition to nuclear power here in the U.S. -- while support for offshore drilling is making a comeback.
The two findings aren't necessarily related to each other, as support for offshore drilling began rising late last year. But the results suggest that, as was the case with the oil spill, an energy production disaster can quickly turn public opinion against that form of energy production.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Japan, Nuclear Energy, Offshore Drilling, Oil, Oil Spill, Polls
Gulf Coast Oil Spill
Thad Allen Dishes On Oil Spill: Sparring With The Press, BP And Nuking The Well
U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, National Incident Commander
Remember when people thought it might a good idea to nuke the well at the height of the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico this summer?
Yeah, that was never gonna happen. But not for lack of interest.
So says retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, the man who ran the government response to the devastating spill. Allen addressed an audience at the Center For Strategic and International Studies in Washington Tuesday evening, where he laid out the trials and tribulations of being the public face of the efforts to clean up the largest ecological disaster in US history. One of those trials, Allen said, was trying to explain why a military designed to fight wars didn't have the right equipment to stop an oil spill.
"I had many, many conversations about why the Department of Defense wasn't brought in to solve this problem," he said. "I got asked at least on five occasions throughout the course of this thing why we didn't think about using a nuclear weapon on the well, ok?"
The uncomfortable truth, Allen said, was that the only people who had the equipment to stop the oil spill were the companies that pull the oil out of the ground in the first place.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Thad Allen
Rand Paul
Rand Paul: Obama Sent 'Wrong Signal' To Biz During BP Spill (VIDEO)
Rand Paul
Sen.-elect Rand Paul (R-KY) is not backing down from his claim that President Obama was too hard on BP back during this summer's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. On the campaign trail in March, Paul took heat for his statement that Obama's rhetoric toward the energy giant in the wake of the disaster off the Louisiana coast was "un-American." In what appear to be his first public comments about the spill since being handily elected Kentucky's new Senator, Paul took a similar line to the one he did as a candidate.
"I didn't like the language," Paul said in an interview on CBS' Face The Nation this morning. "I didn't think the president or his people should say something like 'putting a boot heel on the throat' of a business. I didn't like that."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Rand Paul
LA-SEN
Vitter Shellacks Melancon
Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) and Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)
How's this for a new standard of conduct in politics? A "values" Republican can weather a prostitution scandal in a conservative state as long as it occurs a couple years before his re-election bid in a GOP wave year.
If the Louisiana Senate race was a referendum on Democratic rule, it was also a referendum on Sen. David Vitter (R). He joined the House in 1999 as a values conservative on the right flank of the Republican party, replacing the disgraced Bob Livingston. Rumors swirled around Vitter for years, but he nonetheless moved to the Senate in 2005 replacing the retiring Democrat John Breaux. His reputation was shattered in 2007, though, when he was discovered to have solicited prostitutes in both Washington DC and Louisiana.
Tonight, however, he defeated Democratic Rep. Charlie Melancon in one of the most vicious campaigns of the 2010 cycle.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, BP, Barack Obama, Charlie Melancon, David Vitter, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, LA-SEN, Nancy Pelosi, Senate '10, Sex
Gulf Coast Oil Spill
Administration Officials Plead With Landrieu To Drop Hold On OMB Nominee Jack Lew
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu is holding up President Obama's key economic appointee in critical fiscal times over a local issue his economic team has no control over, giving Republicans campaign ammunition and throwing a wrench into budget planning just as the Senate is set to go home for the elections.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and other top administration officials have been pleading with Landrieu (D-LA) to release her hold on the nomination of Jack Lew to be President Obama's new Office of Management and Budget director. But Landrieu says she won't budge until the moratorium on Gulf Coast drilling is lifted.
OMB doesn't have jurisdiction over drilling, and Democrats are privately outraged someone from their own party would block such a critical nomination -- with several suggesting the state of gridlock in the Senate has reached an untenable level. What's more, the delay to install Lew creates big budgetary problems just as the administration is prepping for several major initiatives, including the 2012 spending blueprint.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, David Vitter, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Jack Lew, Ken Salazar, LA-SEN, Mary Landrieu, Michael Bromwich, OMB, Ocean Energy Management, Offshore Drilling, Peter Orszag
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
AP Poll: BP Image Recovering From Spill, Still Low
The Associated Press reports: "BP's image, which took an ugly beating after the Gulf oil spill, is recovering since the company capped the well, though the oil giant's approval level is still anything but robust. A majority of Americans still aren't convinced it is safe to eat seafood from parts of the Gulf or swim in its waters, a new AP poll shows."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will depart from the White House at 12:35 p.m. ET, and depart form Andrews Air Force Base at 12:50 p.m. ET. He will arrive at 2 p.m. ET in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and will arrive at 2:15 p.m. ET in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Topics: 2010 elections, Alaska, BP, Barack Obama, Filibuster Reform, Financial Reform, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Oil Spill, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Report: Democrats Blindsided By Obama's Mosque Comments
The New York Daily News reports: "Democrats complain they were blindsided when President Obama weighed in on the Ground Zero mosque and handed the GOP a new club to beat them with. Capitol Hill Democrats, including those facing tough races, were not told in advance before Obama's Friday night speech defending Muslims' rights to build a mosque in lower Manhattan. While Mayor Bloomberg knew ahead of time what Obama intended to say at the Ramadan dinner at the White House, New York Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand were kept in the dark, sources said. So was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who dramatically broke with Obama on the mosque Monday."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will depart from Los Angeles at 12 p.m. ET, arriving at Seattle King County International Airport at 2:15 p.m. ET. He will hold a round table discussion with small business owners at 2:40 p.m. ET, and deliver a statement to the press at 3:20 p.m. ET. He will deliver remarks at a fundraiser for Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) at 3:45 p.m. ET, and will speak at another fundraiser at 5:35 p.m. ET. He will depart from Seattle at 6:35 p.m. ET, and will arrive in Columbus, Ohio, at 10:20 p.m. ET.
Topics: 'Ground Zero Mosque', 2010 elections, BP, Barack Obama, Cuba, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Hillary Clinton, Oil Spill, Robert Gates, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: Republicans Want To Privatize Social Security, Haven't 'Learned Any Lessons' From Financial Crisis
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama attacked Republicans for wanting to privatize Social Security.
"I'd have thought, after being reminded how quickly the stock market can tumble, after seeing the wealth people worked a lifetime to earn wiped out in a matter of days, that no one would want to place bets with Social Security on Wall Street; that everyone would understand why we need to be prudent about investing the retirement money of tens of millions of Americans," said Obama. "But some Republican leaders in Congress don't seem to have learned any lessons from the past few years. They're pushing to make privatizing Social Security a key part of their legislative agenda if they win a majority in Congress this fall."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: 2010 elections, AZ-03, Afghanistan, BP, Barney Frank, Ben Quayle, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Hamid Karzai, House '10, Michelle Obama, Oil Spill, PA-SEN, Pat Toomey, Roundup
Federal Reserve
The Can't-Do Agenda: Six Initiatives The Senate Scrapped Ahead Of Their Recess
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
In the rush to close up shop for August recess, the Senate had one of its most productive days in recent memory Thursday. In a matter of hours, they passed a state aid bill, confirmed Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, confirmed dozens of other Obama nominees, including James Clapper as Director of National Intelligence, passed a border security bill, child nutrition legislation, and more.
Underneath all that, though, is a growing pile of initiatives that the Senate failed to take up. Here are the top items on the agenda the Senate didn't check off before adjourning.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Elena Kagan, Energy, Federal Reserve, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Harry Reid, Oil, Oil Spill, Peter Diamond, Pigford, Senate, Stimulus, Supreme Court, Taxes
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Boehner: Repealing Birthright Citizenship 'Worth Considering'
Appearing on Meet The Press, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said that the idea of repealing birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants should be discussed. "Well, David, I'm not the expert on this issue. I have read the--these comments here over this past week. But I think that we do have--there is a problem. To provide an incentive for illegal immigrants to come here so that their children can be U.S. citizens does, in fact, draw more people to our country. I, I do think that it's time for us to secure our borders and enforce the law, and allow this conversation about the 14th Amendment to continue," said Boehner, also adding: "Listen, I think it's worth considering. But it's a serious problem that affects our country. And in certain parts of our country, clearly, our schools, our hospitals, are being overrun by illegal immigrants, a lot of whom came here just so their children could become U.S. citizens."
Ted Olson: Gay Marriage Decision Not 'Judicial Activism'
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, anti-Proposition 8 attorney Ted Olson rejected the charge that Judge Vaughn Walker's decision constitution judicial activism. "It's not judicial activism when judges do what the Constitution requires them to do and they follow the precedent of previous decisions of the Supreme Court. This is what judges are expected to do," said Olson, a Republican who served as Solicitor General under President George W. Bush. He also added: "Most people use the term judicial activism to explain decisions that they don't like."
Topics: BP, Birthright citizenship, Budget, Deficit, Gay Marriage, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, John Boehner, Mike Pence, Mitch Daniels, Oil Spill, Ray Odierno, Roundup, Sunday Shows
NV-SEN
Reid Ad Blasts Angle For Calling BP Escrow Account 'Slush Fund' (VIDEO)
A new ad from Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) attacking his opponent, Sharron Angle (R-NV).
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has a new TV ad, set to begin airing Wednesday, blasting his Republican opponent Sharron Angle for having opposed the $20 billion BP escrow fund to compensate victims of the oil spill.
"The same Sharron Angle who wants to abolish the Department of Energy and the EPA, calls it a 'slush fund' when you make polluters pay," the announcer says. "Sharron Angle, just too extreme."
Angle hammered the escrow fund a month ago, declaring that "Government shouldn't be doing that to a private company" and calling it a "slush fund." She then quickly retracted the comment, bluntly stating that she was "incorrect" to call it a slush fund. But that retraction isn't letting her off the hook as far as political attacks are concerned.
The TPM Poll Average gives Reid a lead of 45.1%-42.7%.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, BP, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Harry Reid, NV-SEN, Oil Spill, Polls, Senate '10, Sharron Angle
Energy
Energy Bill's Chances Sink Ahead Of August Recess
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
Wither the stripped-down energy bill?
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had hoped to pass a scaled-back energy bill ahead of August recess. But with only a week left until break, a packed schedule and an expected Republican filibuster, that's not looking very likely.
Democrats and Republicans remain most heavily divided over a provision in the Democrats' legislation that would eliminate a cap on liability for oil companies in the event of an offshore spill -- something Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) last week called "an affront to those who are serious about enacting good policy."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Energy, Filibuster, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Harry Reid, Lisa Murkowski, Oil, Oil Spill, Senate
WI-SEN
GOPer Ron Johnson: I'll Eventually Sell My BP Stock -- When The Market's Better
Republican candidate for Senate Ron Johnson (WI).
Ron Johnson, a businessman seeking the Republican nomination in Wisconsin against Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, might not fully grasp the concept of dumping one's stock holdings for political reasons.
Johnson, who has come under scrutiny after his financial disclosures showed that he owns stock in BP valued at between $116,003 and $315,000, has been sending mixed signals over whether he will sell the stock. Now he's indicating that he probably will sell -- as soon as it makes sense from a financial perspective.
"I think that'll eventually happen, but I'm going to do it based on market conditions," Johnson said at a forum on Monday, hosted by WisPolitics. "I'm going to have to finance this campaign. At some point in time to get my message out, that'll probably happen."
The TPM Poll Average gives Feingold a narrow edge of 42.0%-40.4%.
Late Update: Note that Johnson not only seems to be saying he will wait for the market to get better so that he can sell at a better price -- but he will then use his BP capital gains to finance his Senate campaign. This guy really doesn't get the whole stock-dumping idea.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, BP, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Oil Spill, Ron Johnson, Russ Feingold, Senate '10, WI-SEN
Energy
GOP Prepares To Oppose Dem Energy Bill Over Oil Spill Liability
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Despite the demise of climate change legislation last week, top Republicans are loudly opposing a new, scaled back energy bill unveiled by Senate Democrats last night.
At a press conference this morning with top Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) called it a "cobbled-together bill," and GOP aides continue to raise the specter of a "national energy tax" despite the fact that the new legislation contains no tax on carbon emissions.
The Democratic plan, which is comprised of several measures (each of which has bipartisan support), may be in serious jeopardy, unless Democrats budge on one key issue: oil spill liability.
Topics: Cap-and-Trade, Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, John Barrasso, Lisa Murkowski, Nuclear Energy, Oil, Oil Spill, Republicans
Charlie Melancon
Melancon Makes Steady Gains On Vitter, Internal Poll Shows
Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) and Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)
Last week, Louisiana Democratic Senate hopeful Charlie Melancon released an internal polling memo that showed that he had erased Republican David Vitter's double digit lead in their upcoming electoral showdown.
Internal data for that poll, conducted by Anzalone Liszt Research and obtained by TPMDC paints a picture of an electorate that still favors the GOP, but which increasingly mistrusts the incumbent Vitter in the wake of a recent scandal, and is now considering Melancon as a viable alternative.
Of 800 likely voters surveyed, 37 percent said they're likely to vote Democratic compared to 42 percent likely to vote Republican, and 20 percent undecided.
Topics: Brent Furer, Charlie Melancon, David Vitter, Democrats, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, LA-SEN, Oil, Oil Spill, Republicans
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
GOP Lawmakers Optimistic About 'No' Votes
The Washington Post reports that Congressional Republicans have become more comfortable with the "Party of No" label: "Republicans say polls suggest that they can oppose all of these initiatives by casting them into a broader critique of Democrats increasing the size of government and the budget deficit, even if their bills are individually popular with the public. 'We're very comfortable where we're at; we have very few members who feel endangered," said Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.), a veteran Republican and a deputy whip in the House. "We feel like we are reflecting a broader mood of dissatisfaction. Right now, the American people want us saying no.'"
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 1:15 p.m. ET, will meet at 1:45 p.m. ET with senior advisers, and will receive the economic daily briefing at 2:45 p.m. ET. He will meet at 4 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He will meet at 4:50 p.m. ET with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. Jim Lagenvin (D-RI), and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI). He will deliver remarks at 6 p.m. ET, at an event to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Biden, Oil, Oil Spill, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
House To Vote On Jobless Benefits
The House is set to vote today to extend unemployment benefits, after the Senate gave its approval Wednesday night. The Senate's vote came after months of gridlock in attaining the necessary 60-vote supermajority to break a Republican filibuster, and the legislation is expected to be quickly signed by President Obama after final passage by the House.
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, will receive the economic daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET, and will meet at 10:45 a.m. ET with senior advisers. At 11:25 a.m. ET, he will deliver remarks and sign the receives the Presidential Daily Briefing. He will meet at 1:30 p.m. ET with Gen. Ray Odierno and Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill. He will meet at 3 p.m. ET with Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner.
Topics: 2010 elections, Afghanistan, BP, Barack Obama, Chamber of Commerce, DCCC, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Biden, Michele Bachmann, Oil Spill, Roundup, Tea Party Caucus, Unemployment benefits
David Vitter
Fox Neglects To Ask Vitter About Scandal, Primary Challenge In 10 Minute Segment (VIDEO)
Senator David Vitter (R-LA)
It's exceedingly rare these days for Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) to voluntarily face the media, fearful he might have to answer uncomfortable questions about his former aide Brent Furer, and whether his most recent scandal is hurting him in his primary against conservative Chet Traylor.
But all bets are off when it comes to Fox News, where Vitter can be in the hot seat for 10 minutes and face precisely zero questions about any of his pressing political controversies.
The segment was dedicated to the Gulf oil spill, so it's not as if all topics were on limits except ones that make Vitter uncomfortable. But given how unusual it is for Vitter to submit to an interview it's a big missed opportunity for host Chris Wallace not to set aside a couple minutes to make Vitter squirm...unless those were the ground rules.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: David Vitter, Fox News, Gulf Coast Oil Spill
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Biden On Midterms: 'I Think We're Going To Shock The Heck Out Of Everybody'
Appearing on This Week, Vice President Biden predicted a strong showing for the Democrats in this November's elections: "I don't think the losses are going to be bad at all. I think we're going to shock the heck out of everybody. I really -- and I've been saying this now. I think even when you and I went down to North Carolina and you followed be on the recovery trip, I was saying it then. I am absolutely confidence -- confident when people take a look at the what has happened since we've taken office in November and comparing it to the alternative, we're going to be very -- we're going to be in great shape. Here's the deal. What Robert Gibbs also said was what he believes, what I believe, what the president believes, we're going to win the House and we're going to win the Senate. We're not going to lose either one of those bodies."
Biden On McChrystal Flap: 'I Didn't Take It Personally At All'
Also during his appearance on This Week, Vice President Biden responded to the disparaging remarks made about him by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who resigned after they were publicized. "I didn't take it personally at all. I really, honest to God, didn't, compared to what happens in politics, this is -- that was a piece of cake," said Biden. "And it wasn't so disparaging is that I -- I was the enemy. It wasn't that I -- I wasn't the clown. I was the guy who, in fact, was their problem, they thought. I'm not their problem. I agree with the policy the president put in place. But it was clear -- I was asked to and I did on my own survey, I think, six four star generals, including present and former, every single one said he had to go."
Topics: 2010 elections, BP, David Vitter, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, House '10, Joe Biden, John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell, NAACP, NRCC, NRSC, Oil Spill, Pete Sessions, Racism, Roundup, Senate '10, Sunday Shows, Tea Party
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: GOP Making Their Stand 'On The Backs Of The Unemployed'
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama attacked Senate Republicans for filibustering an extension of unemployment benefits.
"Now in the past, Presidents and Congresses of both parties have treated unemployment insurance for what it is - an emergency expenditure. That's because an economic disaster can devastate families and communities just as surely as a flood or tornado," said Obama. "Suddenly, Republican leaders want to change that. They say we shouldn't provide unemployment insurance because it costs money. So after years of championing policies that turned a record surplus into a massive deficit, including a tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, they've finally decided to make their stand on the backs of the unemployed."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Donald Berwick, Erick Erickson, Glenn Beck, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Joe Manchin, John Boehner, John Cornyn, Ken Feinberg, NRSC, Oil Spill, Pat Roberts, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Pelosi Slams Gibbs for 'Politically Inept' House Forecast
CQ reports: "Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) slammed White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs during Tuesday night's House Democratic Caucus meeting for saying Sunday that Democrats could lose control of the House in November. Several Democratic sources in the room described a testy scenario that started with Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (N.J.) criticizing Gibbs for saying on NBC's 'Meet the Press' that there is 'no doubt there's enough seats in play' to allow for a House GOP takeover in 2012. Things heated up as Pelosi jumped in and blasted Gibbs for making 'politically inept' comments, according to one source."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President received the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and the economic daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. Obama will meet at 10:30 a.m. ET with senior advisers. Obama and Biden will have lunch at 12:30 p.m. ET with Senators. At 2:05 p.m. ET, Obama will briefly attend a meeting to discuss the progress made by the Administration's increased cybersecurity efforts. Obama and Biden will meet at 5 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and will meet at 5:40 p.m. ET with the House Democratic leadership.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Donald Berwick, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Biden, K Street, Lobbying, Nancy Pelosi, Oil Spill, Robert Gibbs, Roundup, Stimulus
WI-SEN
Feingold Ad: My Opponent Would 'Hand Over The Great Lakes To The Oil Companies' (VIDEO)
A new ad from Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) attacking his opponent Ron Johnson (R) on oil drilling in Lake Michigan.
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) is hammering his main Republican opponent in a new ad, saying that businessman Ron Johnson would "hand over the Great Lakes to the oil companies" -- with the BP oil spill shown as being moved right up to Wisconsin.
"I said no to drilling in our Great Lakes," says Feingold. "But one opponent, Ron Johnson, disagrees. He's willing to hand over the Great Lakes to the oil companies -- threatening Wisconsin's economy, and a way of life for generations of Wisconsin families. We won't let that happen." The ad shows a graphic of the oil spill along the Gulf Coast, with the blotted area then being superimposed over Lake Michigan and spreading all the way across Wisconsin.
The TPM Poll Average gives Feingold a narrow edge of 45.7%-44.0% against Johnson.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, BP, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Oil Spill, Ron Johnson, Russ Feingold, Senate '10, WI-SEN
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Government Hopes New Drilling Moratorium Can Survive
The Associated Press reports: "Rebuffed twice by the courts, the Obama administration is taking another crack at a moratorium on deep-water drilling, stressing new evidence of safety concerns and no longer basing the moratorium on water depth. But those who challenge the latest ban question whether it complies with a judge's ruling tossing out the first one. The new order does not appear to deviate much from the original moratorium, as it still targets deep-water drilling operators but defines them in a different way."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:45 a.m. ET. Obama will meet with senior advisers at 10:15 a.m. ET, and he and Biden will meet at 11 a.m. ET with the Senate Democratic Leadership Team. Obama and Biden will have lunch at 12:20 p.m. ET. They will meet at 4:30 p.m. ET with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Obama will deliver remarks at 5:50 p.m. ET, on the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
Topics: 2010 elections, BP, Barack Obama, Blue Dogs, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Biden, NRA, Oil Spill, Roundup, Sarah Palin
2010 elections
DNC Tries To Link GOP With Angle's BP 'Slush Fund' Comment
US Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV)
The Democratic National Committee is trying to tie the Republican party to Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV) and her unfortunate comments suggesting the escrow account for victims of the Gulf Coast oil spill is a "slush fund." Just like they did with Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) saying the fund was a shakedown and apologizing to BP, the Democrats and even President Obama jumped all over Angle to say that's how the GOP would govern if they win back control of Congress.
The DNC claimed the party received such an "overwhelming response" to the new Web site called BP Republicans they launched last week that they are adding in others who put their foot in their mouth over the oil spill. A party source says they are trying to tell voters that Republicans have done little but show "empathy" toward BP and "big oil" in the months since the oil began gushing into the gulf.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, BP, DNC, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Barton, NV-SEN, Sharron Angle
NV-SEN
Together At Last: Steele And Angle To Re-Emerge At Nevada GOP Convention Tonight
Nevada Republican Senate nominee Sharron Angle and RNC Chairman Michael Steele
The Nevada Republican Party is holding its convention this weekend. And the event will feature two speakers tonight who have each had a rough time over the last week -- Senate nominee Sharron Angle and RNC Chairman Michael Steele.
Both Steele and Angle will be speaking tonight at the party's unity dinner, which will begin at 7 p.m. Pacific Time.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, Afghanistan, BP, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Michael Steele, NV-SEN, RNC, Senate '10, Sharron Angle
NV-SEN
Angle Walks It Back: I Was 'Incorrect' To Call $20B BP Account A 'Slush Fund'
NV Sen. candidate Sharron Angle (R)
Sharron Angle, the Republican nominee for Senate in Nevada against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, has very quickly reversed herself on comments she made on a radio show yesterday, in which she slammed the $20 billion escrow account that BP negotiated with the Obama administration to pay damage claims resulting from the Gulf oil spill. Angle's reversal -- she now says her description of the account as a "slush fund" was "incorrect" -- provides a further data point that while bashing the fund may play well with some on the right, it is also politically untouchable with the wider electorate.
Angle released this statement:
Setting the record straight about BP and the Obama Administration
There's been some confusion this morning regarding my position on BP and the oil spill.
Having had some time to think about it, the caller and I shouldn't have used the term "slush fund"; that was incorrect.
My position is that the creation of this fund to compensate victims was an important first step-- BP caused this disaster and they should pay for it. But there are multiple parties at fault here and there should be a thorough investigation. We need to look into the actions, (or inactions) of the Administration and why the regulatory agency in charge of oversight was asleep at the wheel while BP was cutting corners. Every party involved should be held fully accountable.
Angle's rapid walk-back on this mirrors the same path followed by Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, who apologized to BP for the creation of the fund. Barton was forced by GOP leadership to retract his statements that same day. Of course, the curious thing here is that Barton's comments happened three weeks ago -- so Angle really should have had enough time to learn from this prior example.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, BP, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, NV-SEN, Oil Spill, Senate '10, Sharron Angle
NV-SEN
Angle Bashes $20B BP Oil Spill Damages Account As 'Slush Fund'
US Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV)
Sharron Angle, the Republican nominee in Nevada against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, has now taken a very politically curious step -- opposing the $20 billion escrow fund that BP negotiated with the Obama administration, calling it a "slush fund."
Greg Sargent reports that Angle appeared on a local radio show, where a caller bashed the escrow fund as "extortion" and a "slush fund." Angle then agreed: "Government shouldn't be doing that to a private company. And I think you named it clearly: It's a slush fund." She further added: "They're actually using this crisis if you will, because they never waste one -- Saul Alinsky's rules for radicals -- they are using this crisis now to get in cap and trade, and every crime and penalty, and slush fund." Click here to listen to the audio.
This puts Angle in the company of Republicans like Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, who apologized to BP for the creation of the fund -- and in his case, Barton was forced by the GOP leadership to retract his statements.
The TPM Poll Average gives Angle a lead of 46.0%-40.8%.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, BP, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, NV-SEN, Oil Spill, Senate '10, Sharron Angle
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Hitting The Campaign Trail
The Washington Post reports on President Obama's campaign swing today to Missouri and Nevada: "The country's Democrat-in-chief plans to road-test a midterm election message: that the country can achieve Wall Street reform and a curb on corporate interests only if it elects -- or reelects -- lawmakers from his party...'Expect to hear a lot about reforming Washington,' one Democratic strategist involved in the races said."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will depart from the White House at 10:15 a.m. ET, and from Andrews Air Force Base at 10:30 a.m. ET, arriving at 12:55 p.m. ET in Kansas City, Missouri. He will tour Smith Electric Vehicles at 1:10 p.m. ET, and deliver remarks on the economy at 1:30 p.m. ET. He will then deliver remarks at a 3:05 p.m. ET fundraiser for Senate candidate Robin Carnahan, and he will also deliver remarks at a 3:45 p.m. ET grassroots event for Carnahan. He will depart from Kansas City at 5:25 p.m. ET, arriving at 8 p.m. ET in Las Vegas, Nevada. He will deliver remarks at a 9:15 p.m. ET fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and will attend a 10:30 p.m. ET fundraising dinner for Reid.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Harry Reid, MN-SEN, NV-SEN, Robin Carnahan, Roundup
David Vitter
Larry Flynt To David Vitter: Donate Your Diapers To Gulf Relief
Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and Hustler Magazine founder Larry Flynt
Political gadfly and Hustler publisher Larry Flynt has an ingenious plan for stopping the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and it doesn't have anything to do with bombs, relief wells or devices patented by Kevin Costner. Larry Flynt thinks that BP should use diapers -- David Vitter's diapers, to be precise.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, David Vitter, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Gulf Coast recovery, Larry Flynt, Sex
Gulf Coast Oil Spill
Whodunit! Anonymous Republicans Object To Subpoena Power For Oil Spill Commission
Senators James Inhofe (R-OK) and Jim DeMint (R-SC)
The idea of granting supboena power to President Obama's oil spill inquiry commission has overwhelming support in the Congress. Just last week, the House voted 420 to 1 to do just that. The lone Republican to object was Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). But just yesterday, when Senate Democrats tried to make it official by unanimous consent, they hit a brick wall in the form of Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC).
DeMint objected, likely delaying the subpoena power for weeks. But he did so not because of his own objections, but was acting on behalf of "members of the Republican conference."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Barack Obama, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, James Inhofe, Jim DeMint, Nancy Pelosi, Oil, Oil Spill, White House
Oil Spill
Dems Object To Latest GOP Plan To Increase Oil Spill Liability
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
Democrats are preparing to oppose the latest GOP plan to hold oil companies accountable for spill damages in the future.
A new plan, authored by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), and passed my way by a source, would give the President the authority to set liability caps, based on congressionally approved guidelines, on a spill-by-spill basis. The idea is that this legislation would replace the Democrats' bid to simply lift the liability cap, exposing companies to the full cost of their spills. An Inhofe spokesman says they want to work with Democrats on the GOP proposal and use it as a substitute when the Environment and Public Works committee meets to consider the Democratic plan tomorrow.
Democrats who support lifting the cap altogether say no way. They're preparing a list of objections to Inhofe's plan, highlighting the fact that it leaves the President -- and future, more oil-friendly Presidents -- tremendous discretion to set low liability caps, and that spill damages can not be predicted ahead of time.
We'll see how this pans out tomorrow when EPW meets to mark up the Democrats' bill. Dems seem to be trying to get out in front of this one, worried perhaps that some of their members might get thrown for a loop by the Inhofe plan.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, James Inhofe, Oil, Oil Spill
2010 elections
Blunt's Hopes For Top Republican Slot On Energy Committee Blunted By Reality
Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)
The thirty seconds in which it seemed like Rep. Joe Barton's (R-TX) seat atop the Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee might be in question led to quite a bit of quiet jockeying on the Hill for the right to fill the chair. Given that Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) often touts the fact he's the "second-highest ranking Republican" on the committee all over the place and that he was named to that deputy spot behind Barton last February, one might have assumed that Blunt would have been next in line.
Republican aides weren't willing to say this on the record, but TPMDC learned that Blunt was never under consideration to get the spot. GOP leadership aides made it clear that Rep. Fred Upton (MI) was most likely to get the spot, with Rep. John Shimkus (IL) the contender behind Upton.
Topics: 2010 elections, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Barton, MO-SEN, Roy Blunt
Joe Barton
DCCC Puts GOP On Spot For Not Ousting Barton
Rep. Joe L. Barton (R-TX)
Now that House Republicans have concluded that Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) can keep his post as top GOPer on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Democrats are associating that decision with Republican members in contested districts, highlighting their complicity with party leadership and Barton himself.
"House Republicans like Representative Dave Reichert are keeping British Petroleum apologist Joe Barton as their top Republican on energy policy and continue to back his unbelievable obstruction to holding British Petroleum accountable for this disaster," reads a statement from DCCC spokesman Ryan Rudominer. "This is another outrageous example of Representative Reichert putting Big Oil, like British Petroleum, before American taxpayers. Voters will not tolerate Republicans like Reichert who want a British Petroleum apologist to lead their party's energy policy and their continuing efforts to block holding British Petroleum fully accountable."
If you're keeping track, Barton first apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward over the government response to the oil spill, then apologized for his apology, then basically took back his apology, until his spokesman took responsibility for taking back the apology.
This push will be made in Reichert's Washington state district as well as the districts of the members below the fold, including GOP leadership.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Dave Reichert, Eric Cantor, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Barton, Mike Pence, Mike Ross, Oil, Oil Spill
Rush Limbaugh
Limbaugh Is Now Too Oily For Republicans To Touch
Rush Limbaugh
If more politicians were as forthright as Rep. Steven King (R-IA), Rush Limbaugh might have more friends in Congress these days. In fact, Republicans are so on-message with the idea that Joe Barton was wrong, and speaking for himself, when he apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward that they're even willing to throw the conservative talk show host and noted GOP opinion-mover under the bus.
King says that's mostly for show. Republicans, he suspects, are publicly distancing themselves from Tony Haward apologist Joe Barton while privately acknowledging that he was right to accuse the White House of shaking down BP.
"I think there will be a few that, like me, will agree with JB's words, and his description, and there will be a lot of others that privately agree with what he said," King told TPMDC yesterday.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: BP, Darrell Issa, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Barton, Mario Diaz-Balart, Oil, Oil Spill, Pete Sessions, Rush Limbaugh, Steve King
Joe Barton
Top Republican: Barton's Seat On Energy Committee Is Safe
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)
NRCC chairman Pete Sessions, whose job it is to increase GOP ranks in the House, says Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) will likely retain his post as the top Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Asked last night after a House vote if Barton may face further repercussions for apologizing to BP CEO Tony Hayward, Sessions told reporters that Barton's already paid his penance.
"I don't think that's the direction we're headed in," Sessions said. "...I believe that Joe has adequately addressed the issue."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Eric Cantor, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Barton, John Boehner, Mike Pence, NRCC, Oil, Oil Spill, Pete Sessions
2010 elections
Dems Double Down On Joe Barton In Second TV Ad Poking GOP (VIDEO)
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX)
The Democratic National Committee is putting a second television ad on national cable today as the party keeps Rep. Joe Barton's apology to BP alive and tries to capitalize on it in time for the midterm Congressional elections. The first effort led to donations in the "significant six figures," the DNC said.
The ad, obtained by TPMDC, links Barton to Senate candidate Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN).
The DNC was attempting to "amplify" White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's message over the weekend that Barton's comments about the spill and the escrow account for claims being a "shakedown" are part of a governing philosophy.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: 2010 elections, DNC, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Barton
Charlie Melancon
Melancon: Obama Gets A 'C' On Oil Spill Response
Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)
Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA), who hopes to unseat Republican David Vitter in the Senate this fall, publicly parted ways with President Obama over the government's response to the oil spill in the Gulf. In an interview this afternoon, Melancon gave Obama's response a middling grade.
"Probably a 'C'," Melancon told TPMDC. "Even though his secretaries engaged, he himself didn't really get engaged immediately. I see him making up for that or trying to make up for that, but it's hard to play catchup when you start off slow."
Melancon isn't just upset about Obama's public response, but about the administration's decision to place a moratorium on deep water drilling.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: BP, Barack Obama, Charlie Melancon, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, LA-SEN, Oil, Oil Spill
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
BP, Transocean Tap A Well Of Washington Lobbyists And Consultants
The Washington Post reports: "Companies involved in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill are hiring a bevy of high-priced Washington lobbyists and consultants to help them weather the crisis, as investigations heat up and calls for policy changes intensify. BP, which has garnered the bulk of public attention and contempt for the spill, has assembled a formidable team of Democrats for its Washington lobbying and public-relations offensive."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at a Father's Day Event at 10:15 a.m. ET. Then at 12:15 p.m. ET, he will host a Father's Day Mentoring Barbeque at the White House. He will receive the economic daily briefing at 3:45 p.m. ET, and will meet with senior advisers at 4:15 p.m. ET.
Topics: 2010 elections, BP, Barack Obama, Budget, Chris Van Hollen, Financial Reform, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Joe Biden, John Spratt, Lobbying, Oil Spill, Roundup
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