Debating How to Protect Taxpayers from Deepwater Horizon Bill

Wed, 06/16/2010 - 22:46

New York Times tonight has a good article discussing the financial impact of possible criminal charges on BP. Click on the box halfway down on the left side "How Much Will BP Really Pay" to go to Room for Debate, the Times' forum of experts on the subject. I wrote an op-ed today as a panelist. Please note this piece went up before the escrow details were announced.

I do believe that, having initially agreed to a $20 billion number, it won't be easy to renegotiate in the future despite what claims may arise someday. It would have been better to allow the judicial process to proceed in its normal course rather than preempt it through strong-arming by the Executive Branch. Among other reasons, this sets a bad precedent for companies that want to do business in the U.S.

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Sun, 06/20/2010 - 11:32 — Aidan

I agree 100% on the

I agree 100% on the precedent. It will make foreign companies wary of doing business in a country with Bully Obama in charge.

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