Cornyn: Senate should 'discuss' raising oil spill damage cap

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/95917-cornyn-senate-should-discuss-raising-oil-spill-damage-cap


Cornyn: Senate should 'discuss' raising oil spill damage cap
By J. Taylor Rushing - 05/04/10 01:55 PM ET


Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R) on Tuesday indicated that Senate Republicans might consider raising the liability cap for large-scale oil spills like the British Petroleum spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Cornyn stopped short of endorsing the idea, which has already been put into legislative form by Democratic Sens. Bill Nelson of Florida and Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey.

"You know, I think we ought to have a discussion about that," Cornyn said. "That's not going to stop the oil from flowing now, but we need to have a further discussion on that. I don't think we know enough yet to answer that question."

Nelson, Menendez and Lautenberg want to raise a federal liability cap on economic damages from oil spills, from the current $75 million to $10 billion, as well as lifting the current $500 million cap on environmental damage claims. Damages from the BP spill are estimated to far exceed the current caps.

[jaxx]

1. In other words, let's slow down and start over.

Freakin pubs, they never know enough to answer a question when it comes to taking care of their big biz buddies.

[blogslut]

2. He better want to "discuss" it

Texans have had their share of the devastation left behind when oil spills.

[Scuba]

3. There's a cap? Who's idea was that?

[malaise]

6. The beloved St Ronnie Reagan

:puke:

[Scuba]

7. can you cite a source, please

thanks for your posts

[MiniMe]

4. He the Senator for a Gulf state, Texas. I would be inclined to believe him on this one

But I stand ready to change my mind about him at any time.

[babylonsister]

5. Except for this, which I did not know, though am not surprised...

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=John_Cornyn

snip//


Cornyn has been described as one of "Big Oil's ten favorite members of Congress," as he has received more money from the oil and gas industry than all but six other members of Congress.<1> Cornyn has scored 0% on the League of Conservation Voter's environmental scorecard during his tenure in the Senate, a system of ranking politicians according to their voting record on environmental legislation.