Oberstar Approves of President's Address

Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar says President Obama made a strong statement demonstrating that he is firmly in charge of the response to the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

The 8th District DFL-er says the President laid made it clear that this is BP’s problem.   Oberstar calls  BP's attitude was contemptuous throughout the permitting process. He says he was encouraged by President Obama's commitment to rein BP in with greater oversight, higher safety standards and a promise to make the company put up the cash it will take to cover the cost of the clean up, as well as compensating the businesses, and families who have lost their livelihoods because of this disaster.

Oberstar liked the President's appeal for alternative energy legislation to reduce our dependence on hydrocarbons and move to renewable energy sources like wind and solar that he says will create millions of new jobs. This legislation has already passed in the House and we now have the perfect opportunity to make another appeal for action on this issue by the Senate.