Republican Leaders on the BP 'Shakedown'

http://www.futureofcapitalism.com/2010/06/republican-leaders-on-the-bp-shakedown

Whatever Rep. Joe Barton, the top Republican on the House energy committee, may say, the Republican leadership of the House is emphatic that President Obama's extraction of $20 billion from BP was not a "shakedown." Here is how the New York Times describes the reaction of the Republican leadership:

Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, and Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the Republican whip, summoned Mr. Barton and he "was told to apologize, immediately, or he would lose his spot, immediately," a senior aide said. ...

When Mr. Barton soon did issue a statement of contrition, Mr. Boehner's office also distributed it, for added effect. Then Mr. Boehner, Mr. Cantor and another party leader, Representative Mike Pence of Indiana, together publicly rebuked their colleague.

by Ira Stoll  |  Jun 18, 2010 at 9:50 am Related Topics:  Energy, Politics receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free futureofcapitalism.com mailing list