Bill Lifts $75 million Cap on Liability
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, chairman of the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today praised committee passage of the S. 3305, the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Liability Act. The bill eliminates the $75 million cap on liability for oil spills that was passed in the wake of the Exxon Valdez spill in 1990.
“We must ensure that BP, and any other responsible parties, bear the full financial costs of the economic and environmental disaster that continues to unfold in the Gulf,” said Senator Cardin, a co-sponsor of the measure. “S. 3305 lifts the cap on liability for an offshore oil spill and ensures that the polluters will fully compensate businesses and individuals for their losses.”
In 1990, Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act, which capped the liability of companies at $75 million for all damages claimed by parities injured by an oil spill, including individuals, businesses, and government agencies. In the first quarter of this year, BP reported $5.6 billion in profits. The Deepwater Horizon spill is now the worst in our nation’s history, with claims for damages that have far exceeded $75 million.
“We have a responsibility to the residents of the Gulf Coast and to all Americans to make sure the polluter pay for all economic and environmental damages they cause. This bill makes that a reality,” said Senator Cardin.
Bob Ehrlich has taken issue with new ads that highlight his record on Big Oil and his recent job as a lobbyist. It’s not surprising that he’s upset because he’s been exposed for who he really is. However, when you’re on record talking about your position on oil drilling and what you’ve been up to the last few years you can’t feign outrage and deny it with a straight face. We’ve asked Bob time and time again to come clean to voters about his record. It’s clear that he intends to do the exact opposite.
This new video highlights the facts regarding his record as a lobbyist and a pawn for Big Oil.
What Bob Ehrlich doesn’t want you to know about his relationship with Big Oil
On Tuesday, we released a new web video exposing Bob Ehrlich’s record representing oil companies, voting for offshore drilling and cheering on oil drilling saying “Drill, Baby, Drill.” As the oil spill in the Gulf Coast continues to grow, Bob Ehrlich has yet to come clean with voters about his dirty record on oil drilling.
Watch the video:
Most recently, Ehrlich spokesman Andy Barth was quoted denying that Ehrlich had ever said ‘Drill, Baby, Drill.’ According to The Baltimore Sun, “About ‘Drill, Baby, Drill,’ Barth said: “Governor Ehrlich didn’t say that and doesn’t really have anything to say about it.”
In September 2008, however, Ehrlich said on his radio show: “Don’t forget Michael Steele, lieutenant governor: Drill, Baby, Drill…Drill, Baby, Drill!”
It sounds like Ehrlich has something to say about it. What do you think?
