If, in fact, it is--I think everybody clearly believes this consequence in damages is at least $10 billion--some have suggested it should be an unlimited cap. If that is the figure, your concern wouldn't stop you from putting it at that…

They deserve, as such, a process toward self--true self-determination--that is fair and balanced.

Do you really think that BP was capable or had a real plan for the worst-case discharge?

But, if an entity tells you they are 'capable of responding to the worst-case discharge,' I don't think anybody reasonably would believe that BP had a plan for the worst-case discharge.

I personally believe that you and the country have been ill-served by the Mineral Management Service.

I have legislation to raise it to $10 billion.

I look at all of this and I say to myself that we have dramatically underestimated--it doesn't mean that we won't--that there won't be a policy decision--but, we have dramatically--MMS has dramatically underestimated the potential risk…

I don't think the American taxpayer would believe in that, as a proposition.

First of all, when we call these companies ``independent drillers,'' some of these independent drillers who are portrayed as small mom-and-pop, some of them are like $20 billion companies. So they are not quite the mom-and-pop view we have…

I rise to discuss legislation I have offered with some of my colleagues here: The Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act. It is legislation that would make absolutely certain big oil polluters pay for oilspills and the consequences of those…

Why would this rig not require the oversight and regulation mandated under our country's most important environmental legislation?

It seems to me it's a common industry practice we've got to review.