Yesterday, Rep. Joe Barton, the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, apologized to BP for President Obama’s “shakedown” of the company.
Barton, a former oil company executive, called BP the victim of a “$20 billion shakedown;” he was referring to the $20 billion compensation fund for the victims of the Gulf Coast’s oil-spill. “I apologize,” Barton told BP chief executive Tony Hayward. “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.”
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This did not sit well with Republican leaders. GOP leaders summoned Barton to the Capitol and demanded he apologize. House Republican leadership publicly called Barton’s comments “wrong.”
They even went so far to threaten to strip Barton of his position as ranking Republican on the powerful panel. Rep. Jeff Miller even called on Barton to resign as the committee’s ranking member, calling his remarks “reprehensible” and “out of touch with this tragedy.”
As soon as some Republicans tried to distance themselves from him, Barton was forced to retracted his apology. He stated that he was not defending BP – which he condemns for their actions – but it was an attack on the Obama administration for overreaching in forcing BP to put aside $20 billion.
Barton’s view that the White House has overreached is not surprising. Similar concerns has been voiced here in Texas by Texas Governor Rick Perry and among Tea Partiers.
In a piece by Time, titled simply “Texas Governor Perry Declares War On the EPA,” the story highlights Perry’s opposition to federal regulation of Texas’ powerful oil industries, citing states’ rights issues and the health of the oil industry. After the oil rig explosion in the Gulf, Perry defended BP, by questioning whether the spill was “just an act of God that occurred” and that any “politically driven” decisions could put the US in further economic peril.
“Follow the money”
“Follow the money” and inevitably it will lead you to those who pull the strings. A closer look at the money trail reveals the cozy relationship BP has had with Rick Perry and Joe Barton that has gone on for years. The Lone Star Project has produced a video showing BP’s track record in Texas and Rick Perry’s constant apologies for the corporation.
BP donates $250,000 to the Governor’s mansion
When Rick Perry needed to raise money to restore the Governor’s Mansion after a major fire, he turned to his friends at BP. According to the Austin American-Statesman, “The largest donation is $250,000 from energy giant BP America.” (Source: Austin American-Statesman, January 30, 2009)Perry paid BP for jobs already in Texas
Perry gave BP $750,000 to create 150 jobs in League City, Texas. It was soon revealed that, “50 already work for BP and live in the area.” One expert called it, “a classic case of getting paid for doing what you’re going to do anyway.” (The Houston Chronicle, January 13, 2005)Perry has been widely criticized for his Texas Enterprise Fund after a report revealed that almost half of the companies that received taxpayer dollars have, “failed or struggled to meet job goals.” The companies, including key player in the subprime mortgage market Countrywide Home Loans, have been given a total of $363 million taxpayer dollars. (Source: Austin American-Statesman, January 28, 2010)
According to Open Secrets, Rep. Joe Barton has received $1.5 million in donations last year from big oil. Barton’s biggest donor is Anadarko Petroleum ($146,500), a company that drills heavily in the deepwater Gulf. According to Business Insider, Anadarko is one of the top 25 Energy Companies that has suffered from the drilling moratorium.
It is ironic Barton called BP the victim of a “$20 billion shakedown” considering BP first quarter profits rose to $6.1 billion from $2.6 billion a year earlier. The truth is, Barton, who holds a safe seat in Texas, is able to say what of tea partyers and conservatives are expressing. In Texas, the Republican Party has not been afraid to take stands that are far outside the mainstream, knowing they will get a slap on the wrist.
A political stand is necessary to shed light on the way the Texas Republicans like the Rep Joe Barton and Gov Rick Perry have not looked favorably on the rights of the poor and people of color, but rather favor corporations over individuals that elected them. “Power concedes nothing without a demand,” said Frederick Douglass.
While Joe Barton may be safe, Gov. Rick Perry is not. A new Rasmussen poll shows Texas Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill White is running close to Gov. Perry. I am not under any illusion. I know that Bill White is the underdog in this race. Being outnumbered and outgunned is not new. What gets Bill White motivated is the belief in the power of the people. This election about taking a stand to the unlawful conduct of the Texas Republican Party that takes our resources and disenfranchise us and treats us has second class human beings.
We need a leadership we can be proud of and the time is now.
