Republicans Block Investigative Power for Oil Spill Commission

Senate Democrats today asked unanimous consent to pass legislation that would give the BP Oil Spill Commission the subpoena power it needs to do its job. "Frankly, it's time we have a vote after so many Republican objections to this commonsense legislation," said Sen. Robert Menendez. "[This bill] asserts that we want to protect those families, taxpayers, not oil company profits."

Wow! why would the representative from New Hampshire (a state not affected by the BP oil Spill) object to subpoena power being given to the BP oil spill investigative commission?

The article says partisan response.... I think the senator from NH is bought and paid for!

I'm neither R or D, but lean a little left for this very reason.. as Rs seem more often to put profit first, and people and environment second.

Because this would set a precedent that could cause future harm to the R's principal campaign contributors.

Wrong.

Great out-of-context video posted from the Senate Democrats YouTube channel.

Even a liberal writer at the Washington Post put this into context.

reply to post by JauntyFlannigan


hahahaha

It seems as if the Dems just want to take the heat lamp off of them and onto someone else, although, they just utterly FAILED.


The GOP wanted TIME to READ the bill before giving the nod. No wonder the Dems are mad. They are used to the whole "oh I dont need to read it, heres my signature" type of action.

They really jumped the gun on this one didnt they?

Again, not suprised.

The GOP WILL play along, and Im sure the Dems never wanted that in the first place(although they said they do), they just want to play dirty politics. What else is new?

Edit-cg

[edit on 25-7-2010 by Common Good]

Originally posted by Megiddodiddo
Wow! why would the representative from New Hampshire (a state not affected by the BP oil Spill) object to subpoena power being given to the BP oil spill investigative commission?

The article says partisan response.... I think the senator from NH is bought and paid for!

just a note of correction to the OP.
The Sen. from NH is the one who is WANTING
the vote. The Senator opposing it is Republican
Jim DeMint of SC.

now on to the OP itself

I recall 9 years ago there was a similar
vote on the hill for subpoena powers issued
to a 9/11 Commission. Does anybody wanna
guess where this is going ????

An investigative commission goes where
the evidence leads it. And I have a good idea
that eventually there will be some alphabet soup
agencies involved which will in turn lead back
to the White House or a cabinet member
or maybe even a member or 2 of the congress.
If nothing other than being complicit in the lack
of oversight.

May I remind you of the Scooter Libby fiasco???

Look for it again with a new name this time and a
Presidential pardon waiting just like the last time.

edit for spelling .... dang fat fingers


[edit on 25-7-2010 by boondock-saint]

Originally posted by boondock-saint
now on to the OP itself

I recall 9 years ago there was a similar
vote on the hill for subpoena powers issued
to a 9/11 Commission. Does anybody wanna
guess where this is going ????

Am investigative commission goes where
the evidence leads it. And I have a good idea
that eventually there will some alphabet soup
agencies involved which will in turn lead back
to the White House or a cabinet member.

May I remind you of the Scooter Libby fiasco???

Look for it again with a new name this time and a
Presidential pardon waiting just like the last time.


[edit on 25-7-2010 by boondock-saint]

Was going to say this myself boondock , why should this come as a suprise to anyone .We've been here before right ? and we'll go there again and again until the people wake up . Guess I have time to paint the house huh .

Originally posted by 13th Zodiac
Was going to say this myself boondock , why should this come as a suprise to anyone .We've been here before right ? and we'll go there again and again until the people wake up . Guess I have time to paint the house huh .

yes we have been here before
and we will continue again and again
til there is a massive change.

And you better get more paint
as you'll probably have time for
every house on the block.

Hey OP, can we get a link to the bill they want to pass?

I think with the HUGE bruhaha over the CONTEXT issue just recently, I would like to see the bill.

Maybe this is why the Repubs are asking for it. If the bill is a good one, I can see getting upset. But sorry, until I read the bill, I do not trust the Dems as far as I can throw a nuclear aircraft carrier.

You know that ol health care bill is not a tax and now is a tax thingy.

You know that ol financial bill is to stop too big to fail and a consumer protection bill. Which is exactly the opposite of that and actually is mainly a too big to fail bailout bill and a takeover of the entire economic engine of this damn country.

So stick this YouTube video where the sun does not shine until you post a link to the ENTIRE BILL.

reply to post by Megiddodiddo



Yes, there are victims in the gulf suffering because of the spill. The explosion killed 11 hard working men. The oil is ruining the seafood industry and wild life. This administation with it's invoking of the deep water moretorium is destroying the oil industry and many of the lives who weren't destroyed by ruining the fishing industry. Even the shallow water drilling has been affected. Prior to the "spill" an average of 14 wells a month were approved- there have been a total of FOUR in the last 3 months approved. What BP didn't kill, Obama is. He's not hurting the oil companies- they will go to other countries. He's hurting the gulf states and gulf workers. Folks like you and me.things just keep getting twisted around like them improperly usuing what the scientist said to justify the deep water drilling moretorium.

reply to post by Megiddodiddo


Well what a surprise????
But being a "dirty liberal" - as I have been called here on ATS, home of the polite, guess I should have expected it.

Democrats are stupid because Republicans are so easy to beat.

Yeah the Sarah Palin people "Drill Baby Drill" for Prez 2012 folks will fix it all

wow just

wow

im just a dirty filthy liberal what would I know



[edit on 25-7-2010 by Unknown Soldier]

reply to post by boondock-saint


Ahh... ok, When I watched the vid I thought the president refered to the man as the senator from NH... wonder how I got mixed up on that? oh well. still, I was not aware this hadn't had time to get read, isn't legislation posted online at least 24 hours in advance before voted on? curious.

i dont understand why those democrats are so infuriatingly anxious to pass a bill that the republicans hadnt even read yet, just let them freakin read it and calm the hell down, its ridiculous that they point fingers for opinion when no opinion had been formed yet,

just listen to the one democrat saying this was clearly a seperation of business interest versus citizen interest, trying to put up a fence, they just wanted to read the bill first thats all, and now that they have they approved it!!,

ridiculous.

anyone here who still thinks yeah liberals booh republicans after reading this whole thread are clearly brainwashed by the sensationalism,

this would be the equivilent of me finding anyone who didnt vote for president and accusing them of wanting to vote for the anti-christ, clearly they dont support someone else just because they didnt vote.

Text of S. 3462: A bill to provide subpoena power to the National Commission on the British Petroleum Oil Spill in...

Jun 8, 2010 - Introduced in Senate. This is the original text of the bill as it was written by its sponsor and submitted to the Senate for consideration. This is the latest version of the bill currently available on GovTrack.

S 3462 IS
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3462

 

To provide subpoena power to the National Commission on the British Petroleum Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 8, 2010
Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. KERRY, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. CASEY, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. BENNET, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. FRANKEN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. KAUFMAN, and Mr. WHITEHOUSE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A BILL
To provide subpoena power to the National Commission on the British Petroleum Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. POWERS OF NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE BRITISH PETROLEUM OIL SPILL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

(a) Hearings- The National Commission on the British Petroleum Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico (referred to in this section as the ‘Commission’) or, at the direction of the Commission, any subcommittee or member of the Commission, may, for the purpose of carrying out the duties of the Commission, as the Commission or the subcommittee or member considers advisable in consultation with the Attorney General--

(1) hold such hearings, meet and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths; and
(2) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, tapes, and materials.
(b) Issuance and Enforcement of Subpoenas-

(1) ISSUANCE- A subpoena issued under subsection (a) shall--

(A) bear the signature of a Chairperson of the Commission; and
(B) be served by any person or class of persons designated by a Chairperson for that purpose.
(2) ENFORCEMENT- In the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena issued under subsection (a)(2), the United States district court for the district in which the subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be found may issue an order requiring the person to appear at any designated place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence.
(3) NONCOMPLIANCE- Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of court.
(c) Witness Allowances and Fees-

(1) IN GENERAL- Section 1821 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to a witness requested or subpoenaed to appear at a hearing of the Commission.
(2) EXPENSES- The per diem and mileage allowances for a witness shall be paid from funds available to pay the expenses of the Commission.

Downloadable PDF
















[edit on 7/25/2010 by Megiddodiddo]

Originally posted by Common Good
reply to post by JauntyFlannigan

 

hahahaha

It seems as if the Dems just want to take the heat lamp off of them and onto someone else, although, they just utterly FAILED.


The GOP wanted TIME to READ the bill before giving the nod. No wonder the Dems are mad. They are used to the whole "oh I dont need to read it, heres my signature" type of action.

They really jumped the gun on this one didnt they?

[edit on 25-7-2010 by Common Good]

I guess you could call that your spin on it.

None of these jerks actually "read" bills on either side.

But this is something altogether different.

And why do all these staunch rightwingers never quite see the Republicans protect business while the Democrats hand over and consolidate wealth to them, they play for the same team yet your prejudice an hatred for one over the other is obscene. Its crops vs. bloods, north vs. south, black vs. white, seriuosly, stop all the bull(snip) all of you.

Speaking of it Obama did not create the oil spill, he is not personally responsible for every death of every form of life in the GOM. Some people are placing Obama up there so high then crucifying him as if he was Christ or the Antichrist. Think people its not that hard.


[edit on 25-7-2010 by ISHAMAGI]

you know - for a bill that is so dang short, that was posted well in advance of the vote for all to read - this blockage, which now has been lifted, is outright suspicious.

But, I can see that all the hooscow is on board with thier rip and ride statements about liberal this, that, and the other.

Whatever, liberal smibberal - democrat, god its fat - republican, yes we can...

Thet're ALL the same lady finger in a different colored package - really .

I have a very big question.

What do they need a bill for to subpoena anyone?

I am beginning to wonder about this. If doing an investigation of say a public entity or a public official you would possibly need subpoena power, but if you are doing a criminal investigation of a private company, why do you need subpoena power?

Why not a court warrant?

Someone inform me exactly why you would need subpoena power for a private corporation?

Is it so the congress can do the courts job? Is the executive branch not the ones supposed to be doing enforcement?

Now someone brought up 9/11, that was public people or public entities, I can see subpoena power.

Am I missing something?

Now my interest is peaked.

The OP should post a link to this bill. Or what again was the purpose of this thread? Insinuation?

I love the debate but what a waste of time. BP is big money and government loves big money. They decry it, they scorn it, and they take it everytime. You are being country jacked and you want to boo hoo about Dem. or Rep. I will sum it up for you.
The new reason for running for office is so you can get in on the theft.
The victim is the American middle class as they have the last bits of wealth..
"Daddy if you want to plug the hole hit the flush handle on congress"
Ok i was cranky this morning (lol)