We visited Louisiana to inspect the disaster caused by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

I agree with you on that, that they're not sufficient.

I think that our fundamental starting point is that the polluter should pay.

That's good's to know, that not everybody in Louisiana is going to have hire an attorney.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 291 and 292. My plane was delayed. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' ____________________

They are risking everything by this go-along-with-BP strategy they have. And it -- it seems, like, lackadaisical on this.

They are risking everything by this to 'go along with the BP' strategy they have. And it seems lackadaisical on this.

I would simply make the request that we have a brief conversation about it, in that case. I realize no one is compelled to respond. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana has the floor.

Well, it was a compelling argument. But, again, I am saddened by the fact that we cannot proceed in a straightforward way. There is no objection to the substance of this extension. This is a necessary program. It is a vital program. The…

I'd just like to expand on that point real quickly, and that is that we're moving rapidly in this country towards paying people not to work. So, obviously, that creates that vacuum that you're talking about where people from Mexico want to…

Tony Hayward, he needs to lawyer up, shut up and write checks.

I thank you for yielding. To expand on that point, I have spoken to a number of business owners who have said just that. They really do not want to hire illegals but feel compelled to because the only way they can compete is to do the very…

I think what -- that our government is naive, thinking that they can partner with BP, that its interests are the same as BP's interests.

I think the United States government is naive. They're -- they're -- they're -- we could have subpoenaed that on day two.

They haven't told the truth about a thing since this thing started. And it's stunning that the United States government and a company that makes $2 billion a month can't tell us how much of what is pouring into the Gulf of Mexico. It's…

I rise to discuss flood insurance extension and our need to address that now, to get rid of uncertainty in the market and real concern that this will not be done in time, and the vital National Flood Insurance Program may be allowed to…

Mr. President, with that introduction, I would now propound my underlying unanimous-consent request. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 372, which is the Vitter bill, S. 3347, a…

Mr. President, reclaiming my time, if I could inquire, through the Chair, what the basis of the objection is, I think that would further the debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the Senator propounding an inquiry to other…