http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarti...tentId=7062345
Above is the web-page to make a claim against BP. They have paid out many millions in claims already, for items ranging from lost work to clean up costs. As of yet, nobody has had to go to court....but the option would be there if a claim were in dispute.
Now, I'm not even sure why they still have the claim form on the web-site...if the money is now being handled by the government.
I'm not advocating making people wait...I'm actually skeptical that the model of efficiency known as the federal government will process the claims any faster than BP.
I know Barton got slapped down...politicians generally don't have much space between the lines to manuever in...before they get kicked out of the club (and party affiliation doesn't matter)...doesn't make what he said any less important or true.
Lets take a slide down the slippery slope, shall we.
Lets say we have a bad hurricane season, and the EPA comes to the conclusion that global warming is the culprit. In order to pay for the hurricanes, a $20 billion fund is set up. All of the coal power companies in the country are required by the executive branch of the federal government to pay a proportionate share of the $20 billion...which they of course will pass on to customers. Would that be right?
How about another one. A very wealthy man is discovered to be a serial killer. He is arrested and waiting trial. The mayor of his town visits him in jail, and convinces him to set up a $20 million fund for the relatives of the victims. A few weeks later, when the DA drops the 11 counts of murder to manslaughter...would you be suspicious....has justice been served?
And with all the hot, young, ambitous congressional staffers, I bet there has been some late night fellating on the floor of congress.