Campaign 2010

Jun 18, 2010

Scott Rigell & Joe Barton: Two Peas in a Pod?

Leading Republicans have begun to call on Representative Joe Barton to step down as ranking member of the Energy Committee for standing behind British Petroleum and attacking the Obama Administration’s attempt to hold BP accountable for the costs of the disaster.  It has also come to light that the House Republican Study Committee made comments equally as outrageous as Representative Joe Barton’s. Nearly every member of Congress who has endorsed Scott Rigell is a member of the Republican Study Committee.

“Ever heard the phrase silence is golden? In this case Scott Rigell’s silence is telling,” said Jesse Ferguson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “If Scott Rigell wants to go to Washington and try to put Joe Barton in charge of the nation’s energy policy, the people of Hampton Roads deserve to know. Rigell standing silent on this unconscionable opposition to full accountability for British Petroleum is outrageous. It’s past time that Scott Rigell come forward, apologize and make clear that he and his group are ready to stand up to Big Oil and not for Big Oil.”

Despite leading Republican voices on Energy being roundly rebuked – even by fellow Republicans – Republican candidate Scott Rigell has said NOTHING. Rigell continues to sit by while the party leaders he’d vote to put in power oppose making BP responsible for the costs of the tragedy. Rigell has called for Republicans to retake control of the House of Representatives, which could put Barton in charge of Energy policy.

Background

  • “Republican Rep. Joe Barton of Texas caused an uproar in Washington after suggesting BP was being treated unfairly by the Obama administration -- but it was Rep. Tom Price of Roswell who may have started the hullabaloo that engulfed Capitol Hill on Thursday.” [Atlanta Journal Constitution, 6/17/10]
  • On Wednesday, the Republican Study Committee (RSC), the policy arm of House Republicans, said:
  • “BP’s reported willingness to go along with the White House’s new fund suggests that the Obama Administration is hard at work exerting its brand of Chicago-style shakedown politics.  These actions are emblematic of a politicization of our economy that has been borne out of this Administration’s drive for greater power and control. [RSC; 6/16/10]
  • Representative Tom Price (GA-06), is the Chairman of the RSC [http://rsc.tomprice.house.gov/aboutrsc/ChairBiography.htm]

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