Environment

Why Far-Off Canadian Tar Sands Have Become A Make-Or-Break Issue For Obama With Enviros

Brian Beutler | August 26, 2011, 6:25AM

For six days and counting now, hundreds of protesters have gathered outside the White House to demand President Obama intervene and stop the construction of an oil pipeline that will span the breadth of the United States -- from Montana to the Gulf of Mexico. Over 300 of them have been arrested -- and not just wild-eyed idealistic college students, but high-profile advocates including environmental leader Bill McKibben. Despite all this, the administration says this is a question for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

What the heck is this all about?

At issue isn't just NIMBYism or standard concerns about oil spills, but the question of whether the United States should accelerate an extraction process that some environmental experts say will lose the fight against global warming forever.

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Nuclear Energy

Poll: Support For Nuclear Power Drops, Support For Oil Drilling Up

Jon Terbush | March 22, 2011, 12:32PM

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.

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Federal Reserve

The Can't-Do Agenda: Six Initiatives The Senate Scrapped Ahead Of Their Recess

Brian Beutler | August 9, 2010, 8:47AM

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.

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NV-SEN

Reid Ad Blasts Angle For Calling BP Escrow Account 'Slush Fund' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | August 3, 2010, 4:13PM

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%.

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Energy

Energy Bill's Chances Sink Ahead Of August Recess

Brian Beutler | August 2, 2010, 10:03AM

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."

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WI-SEN

GOPer Ron Johnson: I'll Eventually Sell My BP Stock -- When The Market's Better

Eric Kleefeld | July 28, 2010, 2:01PM

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.

Energy

GOP Prepares To Oppose Dem Energy Bill Over Oil Spill Liability

Brian Beutler | July 28, 2010, 12:34PM

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.

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Charlie Melancon

Melancon Makes Steady Gains On Vitter, Internal Poll Shows

Brian Beutler | July 26, 2010, 11:41AM

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.

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WI-SEN

Feingold Ad: My Opponent Would 'Hand Over The Great Lakes To The Oil Companies' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | July 13, 2010, 9:56AM

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.

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NV-SEN

Angle Walks It Back: I Was 'Incorrect' To Call $20B BP Account A 'Slush Fund'

Eric Kleefeld | July 8, 2010, 1:49PM

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.

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NV-SEN

Angle Bashes $20B BP Oil Spill Damages Account As 'Slush Fund'

Eric Kleefeld | July 8, 2010, 11:28AM

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%.

Gulf Coast Oil Spill

Whodunit! Anonymous Republicans Object To Subpoena Power For Oil Spill Commission

Brian Beutler | July 1, 2010, 2:20PM

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."

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Oil Spill

Dems Object To Latest GOP Plan To Increase Oil Spill Liability

Brian Beutler | June 29, 2010, 1:25PM

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.

Joe Barton

DCCC Puts GOP On Spot For Not Ousting Barton

Brian Beutler | June 23, 2010, 2:33PM

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.

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Rush Limbaugh

Limbaugh Is Now Too Oily For Republicans To Touch

Brian Beutler | June 23, 2010, 10:37AM

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.

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Joe Barton

Top Republican: Barton's Seat On Energy Committee Is Safe

Brian Beutler | June 23, 2010, 9:00AM

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."

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Charlie Melancon

Melancon: Obama Gets A 'C' On Oil Spill Response

Brian Beutler | June 21, 2010, 2:01PM

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.

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Oil Spill

Foot, Meet Mouth: Our Top Six GOP Oil Spill Gaffes

Brian Beutler | June 18, 2010, 6:00PM

(Clockwise from top left) MS Gov. Haley Barbour, Rep. Michelle Bachmann, Former AK Gov. Sarah Palin, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), KY Sen. candidate Rand Paul (R-KY)

BP isn't standing alone with one foot on the ground and the other in its mouth. Since the spill began in April, Republicans have demonstrated an exceptional tendency to blurt out their inconvenient beliefs about the disaster and the federal response. And we're not talking about backbenchers here -- the dirty talk has come from their most powerful and visible members. From Capitol Hill to the Gulf Coast, we bring you, in chronological order, the top six GOP oil spill slip-ups.

1. Rand Paul
He's since gone into hiding, likely on NRSC orders, but back when the Kentucky Senate hopeful was still flapping his gums (to hilarious effect) on national television, he let slip that he wanted the Obama administration to leave BP aloooooone!

"This sort of, you know 'I'll put my boot heel on the throat of BP,' I think that sounds really un-American in his criticism of business," Paul said on Good Morning America last month.

Watch:

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2010 elections

DNC Ad: If The GOP Wins Congress, Joe Barton Would Oversee BP (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | June 18, 2010, 5:51PM

New ad from the Democratic National Committee

The Democratic National Committee has a new national TV ad, aiming to nail the whole Republican Party to Rep. Joe Barton's (R-TX) public apology to BP for the $20 billion escrow account that the Obama administration worked out with them, to pay for damages from the big oil spill.

The ad makes hay of Barton's status as the ranking Republican on the House committee that oversees the oil industry. The announcer says: "Now, at President Obama's direction, BP's set aside 20 billion for recovery on the Gulf coast. But if Republicans were in charge, this is the guy who'd be overseeing BP."

The GOP clearly knew how politically damaging this would be, as they ordered Barton to retract his apology immediately. But that's not stopping the Dems from putting out a message that Barton said what his party was really thinking about making BP pay for the damages.

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MN-06

Bachmann Opponent's New Ad Blasts Her For 'Standing Up For BP' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | June 18, 2010, 2:07PM

Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) and MN-06 House candidate Tarryl Clark (D)

Minnesota state Sen. Tarryl Clark, the Democratic candidate to go up against Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann, is looking to get an ad on the air going after Bachmann for having bashed the the BP escrow fund as "extortion" by the Obama administration.

The ad is not yet up on TV, but the Clark campaign is conducting a fundraising drive among supporters to get it on the air.

"It's BP's fault. And they should pay. But Michelle Bachmann calls making BP pay for the clean up 'extortion,'" the announcer says. "And said 'If I was the head of BP, I would let the signal get out there - 'We're not going to be chumps.'"

"If Bachmann lets BP off the hook, guess who's paying? Us," the announcer says. "Michele Bachmann: standing up for BP. Not us."

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Oil Spill

Hannity And Gingrich Agree With Barton On BP 'Shakedown' -- Even After Barton Took It Back (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | June 18, 2010, 11:27AM

Gingrich on Hannity

On last night's episode of Sean Hannity's TV show, Hannity and former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) went ahead and agreed with Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) that the BP escrow account is a "shakedown." And amusingly, they failed to even mention that Barton was subjected to widespread media ridicule and then ordered by the GOP leadership to retract his comments just hours after he dramatically apologized to BP.

"We had this show on Capitol Hill today. And Joe Barton, congressman, said you know what, this is a shakedown," said Hannity. "We have a lot of other Congressmen, you know, debating whether or not the White House is exceeding their constitutional authority by demanding that BP put all this money in escrow, when in fact we have a law in place."

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Gulf Coast Oil Spill

GOP Rep. Barton: 'I Apologize' To BP For 'Tragedy' Of Obama Admin's '$20 Billion Shakedown' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | June 17, 2010, 10:47AM

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX)

In the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing today on the BP oil spill, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) said something very remarkable: Amidst a committee slamming BP all around, he apologized to the company for the $20 billion escrow account that the Obama administration asked them to create for paying out damages in the case.

"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," Barton said.

I'm speaking now totally for myself, I'm not speaking for the Republican Party, I'm not speaking for anybody in the House of Representatives, but myself. But I'm ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday.

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, with the Attorney General of the United States, who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigation and has every right to do so to protect the interests 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 not legal standing, and which sets I think a terrible precedent for the future.

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Gulf Coast Oil Spill

Say What? GOPers Slam White House Over BP Gulf Spill Fund

Eric Kleefeld | June 17, 2010, 10:18AM

(clockwise from top left) Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN), Rush Limbaugh, Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS) and Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)

BP is ponying up $20 billion for Gulf Spill oil damages. And quite a few Republicans don't like it one bit.

The Obama administration and BP seem to have come to a solution on paying for damages from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, with the $20 billion escrow account to pay out damages to claimants. And since everything that a president does will get attacked by opponents, some Republicans have come out strongly against it -- with the sum total of charges being that it will turn into a political slush fund procured through dirty Chicago thug tactics that will be paid out to ACORN.

• Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) vigorously attacked the idea: "The president just called for creating a fund that would be administered by outsiders, which would be more of a redistribution-of-wealth fund," Bachmann said on Tuesday, also adding that BP should say, "We're not going to be chumps, and we're not going to be fleeced." Bachmann later backtracked on Wednesday, saying that BP should pay for all of the damages involved, but that the fund should not be "an unending pot of money."

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Michele Bachmann

Bachmann Blasts 'Redistribution Of Wealth' Escrow Fund, Says BP Shouldn't Be 'Chumps'

Eric Kleefeld | June 16, 2010, 10:07AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is emerging as a fierce critic of the Obama administration's proposed escrow fund to handle damage claims against BP.

The Minnesota Independent reports that Bachmann spoke Tuesday to the Heritage Foundation, and badmouthed the idea. "The president just called for creating a fund that would be administered by outsiders, which would be more of a redistribution-of-wealth fund," said Bachmann. "And now it appears like we'll be looking at one more gateway for more government control, more money to government."

Also, David Weigel reports that Bachmann also said: "They have to lift the liability cap. But if I was the head of BP, I would let the signal get out there -- 'We're not going to be chumps, and we're not going to be fleeced.' And they shouldn't be. They shouldn't have to be fleeced and make chumps to have to pay for perpetual unemployment and all the rest -- they've got to be legitimate claims."

Gulf Coast Oil Spill

Poll: Louisiana Loves Bobby Jindal -- And Offshore Drilling

Eric Kleefeld | June 15, 2010, 3:09PM

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal

The new survey of Louisiana by Public Policy Polling (D) finds that despite the disaster created by the BP oil spill, the state's voters still overwhelmingly support offshore drilling.

The poll asked: "Do you support or oppose drilling for oil off the shore of Louisiana?" The answer was support 77%, oppose 12%. In addition, only 31% said that the spill made them less supportive of drilling, to 28% who said it made them more supportive, and 42% for whom it made no difference.

"People are always concerned with their economic livelihood," writes PPP president Dean Debnam. "In Louisiana the economy and jobs are clearly tied to the oil and gas industry. Louisianans seem more concerned about the closure of oil rigs than of beaches."

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BP

Would The GOP Plan To Hold BP Accountable Actually Work?

Brian Beutler | June 14, 2010, 11:12AM

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)

The Republican plan to stick BP with the full cost of the Gulf oil spill lacks the teeth to actually make BP pay for the damages caused by the worst spill in U.S. history, according to Democrats and experts on offshore drilling law who spoke with TPM.

Until House Minority Leader John Boehner went on the record this weekend in support of lifting the $75 million cap on BP's liability for damages caused by the catastrophe, he and his party for weeks had opposed Democratic efforts to retroactively and permanently lift that cap so that BP ponies up for this spill and so that damages from future spills are the full responsibility of the oil companies that cause them.

Last week, as controversy over the GOP's position on BP raged, Boehner's office suggested to me that a better way to hold the oil giant accountable for the current spill would be to pass legislation sponsored by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) who proposes lifting the cap on BP, but leaving the $75 million cap in place -- punting for now on the question of what to do about future spills.

The big problem: Democrats and experts say it won't work.

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