By Eileen Buckley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-906324.mp3
Buffalo, NY – Western New York Congress woman Slaughter told reporters she wants BP to pay for ALL the damage it has caused by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
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"Let's not forget this is BP's spill. They're the people that are suppose to know how to clean it up," said Slaughter.
Congresswoman Slaughter said the government must be involved as much as it can in the on-going progress on the spill in the Gulf.
Slaughter doesn't expect any federal disaster aid to distributed. She said the financial responsibility must be BP's.
"This is going to be BP aid. We are going to charge them for everything that has happened," said Slaughter.
Senator Slaughter is very concerned about the number of rigs and the potential of another spill. Slaughter agreed with President Obama on a moratorium. But Slaughter believes the efforts to cap the spill is encouraging.
Slaughter said she supports the proposal to create a Civil Conservation Core. It would be made up of younger people to be hired to help clean up from the spill at BP's expense. Slaughter said oil companies can no longer police themselves. She says the rules must change to prevent future tragedies.
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is has joined nine of her Senate colleagues to introduce legislation to grant subpoena power for an investigation into the BP oil spill. "Subpoena power is critical to hold all parties accountable, protect taxpayers and successfully clean up the disaster in the Gulf," said Senator Gillibrand
Lawmakers introduced legislation to grant subpoena power to the bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.
"Our investigations must have real teeth with subpoena power that allow us to get to the bottom of this catastrophe," said Senator Gillibrand.