Tuesday, May 18, 2010 5:00 PM
Nelson Rips GOP Over Liability Cap
By Amy Harder, NationalJournal.com
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., today blasted Republicans opposing his legislation that would drastically increase the liability cap for oil companies in the wake of a spill.
Republicans, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who blocked action on the bill last week, argue that such a bill would be economically crippling for small oil companies. "In other words, if there is a big devastation, just because it's a smaller oil company they should get off scot-free? There is no logic in that argument," Nelson told reporters today immediately after a second Republican -- Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma -- blocked the legislation again. Democrat Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana has also expressed opposition to the legislation on these grounds.
"Eventually the Republican opposition to raising the liability limit from a mere $75 million is going to collapse because they cannot stand there with a straight face and say that the taxpayers should pay the economic devastation instead of the oil companies," Nelson said. As for the legislation -- co-sponsored by New Jersey Democrats Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg -- "We'll keep bringing it up until they cry uncle," Nelson promised.
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