and what does joe barton do?he takes b.p. , which is a local regard institution in our society right now , and identifies them with the republican party. i mean, he puts a republican face on the defense of b.p. , and it's almost an inclination, it seems to me, to blame america first. these people are so consumed with their animous towards barack obama , that they're going to go on the side of b.p. because b.p. is on the other side. and i just think joe barton -- joe barton will not be the chairman if the republicans take over the committee-- take over the congress. he will not be the ranking member. joe barton's seen his best days in the house of representatives. >> lehrer: david, i think that's a yes. >> politically, i completely agree. >> lehrer: you do. >> i mean politically, if you're thinking where should the attention be? it should not be on the republican party because of some stupid thing some guy said. politically it was insane. but if i could vent my general frustration with the week. >> lehrer: you may

jo bonner, a conservative republican, the first thing he did after joe barton made his apology was run to the senate and house floor and told john boehner that barton needed to lose his job. these folks have represented their interests very strongly in the oil spill. some of the republicans are fairly against connie mack for example -- against, connie mack, for example, offshore drilling. i cannot see where the oil spill affects a civic elections. in the broader sense, i think it will hurt -- the oil spill affects specific elections. in the broader sense, i think it will hurt democrats. there is a long summer of watching that oil spill feed every day on tv. regardless of whose fault it is, is a reflection on the party on charge -- on the party in charge. could feed into the larger narrative of how the democrats are running the government. >> it is early to know. the way the public is processing the oil spill is going to take time to play out. it is true that it is more likely to have an impact on races away from the gulf than in the gulf, especially in terms of people seeing, you know,

host: and joe barton, again. he apologized for his apology a little later. >> i want to make it clear that t.a.r.p. is responsible for this accident, should be held in response -- make it clear that bp is responsible for this accident, should be held responsible for this accident and the consequences as a result of this accident. if anything i have said this morning has been misconstrued, i want to apologize for that misconstruction. host: an article inside the open court financial times" this morning -- in the "financial times" this morning. again, this is in the "financial times" this morning. next call on our democrats line, larry, hello. caller: this shows that republicans will be with big business at all costs. host: do you think the hearings are important? ever -- from the beginning they have always said that they will do whatever they need to do this. but the bp ceo guy, the gentleman that demanded that he should apologize or kill himself, and then the other guy turned around and said, if it was in his cou

i don't know, who except ben and representative joe barton, the republican of texas is defending bp. >> i wasn't defending them at all, stephanie, that is made up in your mind. you made that up. >> larry: we'll get to that. >> i understand. >> larry: your read on the hearing. >> who can defend bp.? i don't know. clearly, larry, there are so many levels of liability here. maybe it was some what cathartic for the american people to watch this. they clearly, $20 billion is just a start. i think the president did a great job in starting there with that. >> larry: dana, did you learn anything today? >> i don't know what i learned except, grilling hayward and bp is a great distraction from this administration taking any responsibility at all of its own actions. sure, nobody is defending bp. bp messed up. but why make it worse by not doing anything for all most two months after the fact. people, this administration, not only sat on their hands, they sat on everybody else's hands too and prevented this, this catastrophe from being further contained. that's why we have a lot more of these oil

host: i wanted to get your reaction about joe barton keeping his seniority on the energy committee.st: it does not surprise me. the republicans are not going to take on big oil. this is now a benchmark issue for americans coming into the+ midterms. if the democrats lose the majority, this man will be in charge of the house energy committee, in a far more powerful position than he is right now. this is a guy who stood up and apologized to british petroleum after they circumvented the permitting process, infiltrated the government, did a shakedown on people themselves when it came to cash. the stores are and less as to how they have operated, -- the stories are and less as to how they have operated. now this guy is going to be possibly a chairman of the committee that did not deal directly with this? i find it amazing that republican leadership does not have the character and the insight to care about the middle-class to make a change here. they are horrible in the image business. jay on the go to democratic line in west chester, pennsylvania. caller: i have one comment and one questi

but he also received an unexpected apology from republican joe barton of texas. >> but i'm ashamed of what happened in the white house yesterday. >> lehrer: barton was criticizing the announcement that b.p. would set up a $20 billion fund to pay damage claims. >> i think it's a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what i would characterize as a shakedown. in this case a $20 billion shakedown. >> lehrer: barton is one of the largest recipients of campaign tprupb from the oil and gas industry and his statement brought rebukes in the hearing and elsewhere. vice president joe biden weighed in at the white house. >> there's no shakedown. it's insisting on responsible conduct and a responsible response to something they caused. and i find it outrageous to suggest that if in fact we insisted that b.p. demonstrate their preparedness to put aside billions of dollars, in this case $20 billion, to take care of the immediate need of people who are drowning . >> lehrer: later, congressman barton said his remarks had been "misconstrued." >> i want to record

. >> you were given what democrats see as a political gift by joe barton, the ranking republican. >>i am ashamed of what happened in the white house just today. i think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what i would characterize as a shakedown. in this case a $20 billion shakedown. >> joe barton later apologized after pressure from house republican leaders. but he has been called to step down from the committee. do you agree? >> that is for republicans to decide. it is a political gift for us, but dangerous for the american people. host: your thoughts? guest: this makes me very tired of washington. this game of gotcha and the way someone says something, and maybe he should not have said, but then people have to pretend to be terribly offended when they are actually delighted. a gaffe -- people" meal lot as saying it is when a politician tells the truth. it is not that he said anything wrong as a surly, it is that he said something you can pretend to be terribly offended about -- not that he said anything wrong necessarily. we have

same view of the oil damage fund expressed earlier today by energy committee then be -- a member joe barton that called the $20 billion fund a shakedown. the weekly briefing is 25 minutes, and we will show you as much of this as we can. >> a good afternoon. thank you all for accommodating the change in schedule from morning until afternoon as i am sure you are aware, we had a briefing at 11:00 from admiral palin on the situation in the gulf of mexico. it was very informative. members from the region had very specific questions about how the people and their district were affected and the impact it has had on our country, our economy, and the ecology of the region. and most of all, the well-being of the individuals. we had an opportunity to speak later about how we can make change for the better to increase the role that the coast guard has been working with mms, the new minerals management service in order for them to be part of decision making when they are part of the response to it. we look forward to staying in touch with the admiral and i thank him on behalf of all members of the congr

. >> you were given what democrats e as a political gift by joe barton, the ranking republican. >> i am ashamed of what happened in the white house just today. i think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what i would characterize as a shakedown. in this case a $20 billion shakedown. >> joe barton later apologized after pressure from house republican leaders. but he has been called to step down from the committee. do you agree? >> that is for republicans to decide. it is a political gift for us, but dangerous for the american people. host: your thoughts? guest: this makes me very tired of washington. this game of gotcha and the way someone says something, and maybe he should not have said, but then people have to pretend to be terribly offended when they are actually delighted. a gaffe -- people" meal lot as saying it is when a politician tells the truth. it is not that he said anything wrong as a surly, it is that he said something you can pretend to be terribly offended about -- not that he said anything wrong necessarily. we have i

here is what joe barton had to say yesterday. >> i am not speaking for the republican party or anyone the house of representatives, but myself. i am ashamed of what happened in the white house yesterday. i think it is a tragedy of the first portioproportion that a pe corporation can be subject to what i would characterize as a shakedown, in this case a $20 billion shakedown, with e attorney general of the united states who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigion, and has every right to do so on behalf of the american people. it amounts to a $20 billion slush fund. it is unprecedentein our nation's history and has no legal standing and, i think, sets a terrible precedent for our nation. host: here he is with a scrum of photographers all around taking his picture. and here is "the wall street journal." the "washington post" have no picture, but a lead story as well. and inside the money section. and before we get to calls, here is the open for wall street journal" editorial today. there was in particular no reason for bp to compound it error and agreed to spend another $100 mi

commerce committee, bobby rush, the chairman of the consumer protection subcommittee, as well as joe barton the ranking member of the full committee. as my colleagues have fence mentioned calling cards are an invaluable resource for a number of people who make frequent long distance or overseas calls. students, members of the armed forces, and those whose family is outside of the country regularly use these cards to call home. the cards are also popular among people who choose not to subscribe to long distance telephone service or can't afford it. they are a necessaryity, they are a necessary tool for keeping in touch with friends and family members. calling cards that provide the services the company advertise can save consumers a great deal% of money when they call home. unfortunately, my colleagues have mentioned as we see all too often, a number of inscrupulous companies are failing to keep their advertised trms. i first learned of this issue about three years ago when i heard from a number of constituents%who said their prepaid calling cards were not delivering a number of minutes that

house minority leader john boehner today distanced himself by remarks by energy committee member joe barton, who called president obama's meeting with bp executives a "shakedown," in reference to the agreement by bp to set up a $20 billion fund for damages from the gulf oil spill. he also talked about a measure introduced by democrats that would require greater disclosure by outside groups spending money on political campaigns. this is 10 minutes. >> we are squarely focused on stopping this week, cleaning up the mess, and finding out what went wrong. i don't think president obama should exploit this crisis by imposing a national energy tax on families and small businesses. both parties should be working together to craft responsible solutions to this disaster. there is nothing irresponsible about a national energy tax that would raise -- there is nothing responsible about a national energy tax that would raise taxes and ship jobs overseas. this bill was left dead for reason. remember, what obama is chief of staff said, "you never want a serious crisis to go to waste." when health care costs

coveted roll call trophy stays blue and i'd like to recognize my good friend, the republican manager, joe barton. mr. barton: madam speaker, there have been those on the other side of the aisle that from time to time have spoken of the ungenerosity and the stinginess and the cold-heartedness of the republicans, but the seventh inning last night should put that to rest forever. we were very generous. every man of the republican mind made some effort in generosity of spirit to drop balls, misplace throws go out of their way to make sure that at least on the diamond the democrats would feel good. now, we don't want this to go to your head, though, mr. doyle. that trophy is on loan. if you look at wherever the records are kept, if you win the next 20 in a row there will still be more r wins than d wins. mr. doyle: i have to say my friend is living in the past. mr. barton: so in the spirit of the moment, we cannot say that chairman slaughter ran a closed rule out on us. it was an open rule. it was fair competition, and luckily for both sides the real winners, as you said it, the boys and girls club a

also on the hill, representative joe barton will retain his top spot on the house energy and commerce committee. barton who came under fire after apologizing to b.p.'s c.e.o. tony hayward about the way the government treated the company, will stay on the committee which oversees oil and gas regulation, among other areaa. right now we go to a briefing by admiral thad allen on the gulf oil spill. >> good morning, everyone, i'm lieutenant joe pinker, press secretary to admiral allen. he'll be sgroined the secretary for labor and health. just a couple of ground rules follow the comments, we'll have 10 minutes of questions from the phone and possibly 10 minutes of questions from the room. at that -- at this time, i'll turn it over to admiral allen. >> thank you. good afternoon. a couple of developments to update you on but first of all, as of midnight last night, we were able to produce 27,097 barrels a new high for us, a combination of the discover enterprise, which did 668,000 and the q-4000 which flared off natural gas and oil of 420,000 oils. we had an incident earlier today where they

ed markey, joe barton, fred upton and john dingell, rick boucher played significant roles in developing the proposal. john barrowad a very important part of this legislation as well. and i commend all of them for working together with me in preparing for this legislation that we're presenting to our colleagues today. e staffs of both the majority and the minority had extensive discussions with interested stakeholders and agencies. we worked with many members to answer their questions, address their concerns and consider their constructive suggestions. it's been a cooperative process that has produced strong bipartisan legislation. in fact, the energy and commerce committee favorably reported the bill by a unanimous votof 47-0. today, our electric grid simply isn't adequately protected from a range of potential threats in an emergency situation where the grid faces an imminent threat. the federal energy regulatory commission currently lacks authority to require the necessary protective measures. there are also an ever growing number of security vulnerabilities. these are weaknesses in th

host: a littleater in the hearing yesterday, joe barton apologize for his comments. very quickly, here is what he had to say. all right, we do not have that quite yet. if we will move on to falls church, va. -- we will move on to falls church, va. on the republican line, go ahead. caller: it seemed a bit of a circus to me yesterday, really. once the guy was not going to comment on open investigation matters, you know, they had five good points that they had to say to bp. he was just not going to comment on >> he can mosh pit -- you can watch washington journal any time. we are taking live to join dr. rajiv shah. will be talking about reconstruction efforts six months after the earthquake in haiti. we join us live on c-span. >> we've committed $1.5 billion at a donors' conference in april. of this funding, usaid contributions entitle -- in, and $5 million. conditions in haiti remain dire as the six-month anniversary of the earthquake approaches. dr. rajiv shah is managing aid and development programs and more than 100 other countries. shah has says the goal of usaid i

i think the story that's not told, and joe barton mentioned this a couple times, but you are in the deepwater because that's where major oil finds are, and i have marge natural oil production in southern illinois and it is about a barrel a day. we still produce. we are the 10th leading state. it's not very much, and we're proud of what we get out of the ground. since i've been to the refinery there, numerous times, one thing that is important, if we're talking about all the above energying strategy, -- energy strategy, and i'll talk climb ate debate another day, but we can agree on north america energy independence. what you are doing is bringing tar samples down through a pipeline that can be refined in the midwest so that we will be less dependent on imported crude oil and we may not have to be in places that are tough. so that's a shout-out. i have also talked to this committee numerous times about cold or liquid technologies. that would be another way to displace our reliance on imported crude oil and stuff. >> at the peak, there were 4,000 construction jobs. they are good paying, big num