Like Oil and Water: DeLay Champions Polluters, Not Voters

DeLay Champions Big Oil Polluters Instead of his Constituents

House Speaker Tom DeLay (R-TX) has pushed hard for the MtBE liability shield for oil and chemical companies. Even though his Big Oil Bailout would eliminate his constituents' rights to sue Big Oil for knowingly contaminating their groundwater, DeLay sides with the oil and chemical companies that lobbied to have MtBE put in the water in the first place. The following are excerpts from news stories on DeLay's push shield big oil companies from legal accountability.

Excerpts

"In a controversial move, the House bill also reintroduces a provision that protects oil companies from lawsuits on the gasoline additive called MTBE, a provision that was a dealbreaker for the Senate in the 108th Congress. The provision is strongly backed by House majority leader Tom DeLay, whose Texas district includes MTBE production, as well as House energy chairman Barton."

Christian Science Monitor, April 5, 2005,
Oil cost stokes push for policy

By Gail Russell Chaddock

"House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton, R-Ennis, have been adamant about keeping that provision in the bill."

The Houston Chronicle, February 10, 2005

Congress jump-starts energy bill for Bush; House version contains MTBE liability shield"

By David Ivanovich

"Barton and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, have been pushing to add a provision to the national energy bill that would shield oil companies from multimillion-dollar lawsuits that claim that MTBE is a defective product."

Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 12, 2005

Proposal to shield oil companies stalls energy bill

By Scott Streater