Bob Menendez: “I want to rise in support of what my distinguished colleague from New Hampshire is trying to accomplish here, which is…”

“I want to rise in support of what my distinguished colleague from New Hampshire is trying to accomplish here, which is simply to give the oilspill commission the subpoena power it needs to be able to do its job--to bring those individuals before it who might be reticent to come forth. What we have seen here on the floor--and what we have seen in the last few minutes--is a whole process that I hope the American people understand is a clear contrast between who stands on their side and who stands on the side of special interests. How is it possible that Members of this Chamber find it difficult to even proceed, when the House of Representatives, in a near unanimous vote, could say that the subpoena power is necessary for the commission to be able to get to the bottom of what happened? The House voted unanimously, save for one vote. Yet we cannot even proceed. This isn't rocket science. It is common sense to most Americans. We need to fully learn the lessons of this disaster with a thorough investigation, not to protect oil companies from having their negligence exposed. We need to get answers from BP and Transocean and Halliburton and everyone else, including the Federal agencies, not to give apologies to them, as I have seen Republicans suggest that we should apologize to BP for making sure the residents of the gulf region are held whole. We need to know the truth, and the commission needs subpoena power to get the truth. So who are you protecting?”