Amid Oil Crisis, Kerry Calls for Policy Shift

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. said that he is introducing legislation that will move the United States to a "new energy economy" of producing green, clean energy - steps he says will help ensure that the disaster in the Gulf region won't happen again.

Speaking Wednesday on CBS' The Early Show, Kerry said that he and Sen. Lieberman have introduced the American Power Act, which emphasizes clean energy.

The goal, he said, is to "reduce pollution, clean up the air and water, create jobs and increase America's independence, thereby strengthening our national security."

However, he said that the United States was not yet in a position to freeze offshore drilling.

"We're not going to stop drilling all of a sudden," Kerry said.

Kerry's comments come as a new CBS News poll shows dwindling public support for offshore drilling after the Gulf oil spill.

The senator said his legislation would restrict drilling but give more power to the states.

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Meanwhile, a second, smaller oil containment box was lowered into the sea near the blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico.

The box was being slowly submerged to the seabed Tuesday, but it won't be placed over the spewing well right away. BP spokesman Bill Salvin says engineers want to make sure everything is configured correctly and avoid the same buildup of ice crystals that stymied their first attempt at using a larger box that was about 100 tons.

This box will be connected to a ship on the surface by a pipe-within-a-pipe when it's lowered. Crews plan to pump in heated water and methanol so ice won't build up.

Salvin said undersea robots will position the box over the gusher by Thursday.

More than 4 million gallons of oil have spewed from the well since a drilling rig exploded April 20.

You can watch the interview with Kerry below:

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[stn_sage]

So, he and Lieberman are going to introduce the American Power Act to call for 'clean energy'?! How nice!

They are both long term politicians who are well aware of the multitude of problems that are associated with the oil industry...from oil spills, refinery shutdowns & explosions, to damage done to the environment & the resulting clean ups that the PUBLIC pays for...they're aware of it!

So, they FINALLY want to take some oversight action, huh? Or, do they?!

Notice in the article it says they're for cleaner methods but the oil drilling isn't going to stop! Translation: nothing is really going to change!

My point is these two #$@*#$*! need to stop "conning" the public!
Their plan is too little, too late! It calls for change, but won't deliver it!
If they wanted REAL change, they'd call for the mass production, implementation, and use of totally environmentally clean, free energy
devices!
But, they won't do that, because it actually WOULD be good for the country and the world!
What they're offering is simply, election year politics as usual!!

[excop1949]

Didn't he fight in Vietnam?

[aftinc]

I've been looking around and large oil spills are more common then the media would like us to know. If you compare how we're handling the issue in the gulf to what goes on around the globe in not so obvious places we'd all be horrified.

[xmissile]

"More oil seeps into the gulf naturally every year than has been put there by this spill"

Yes, but it occurs at over 600 points that pepper the entire Gulf thus causing the oil to diffuse over a vast area. If the oil from this disaster were to continue leaking for a year, it would exceed Exxon-Valdez by 6x or 3x naturally occurring seepage. What we are not factoring into the mix are the hundreds of thousands of gallons of dispersent, the toxicity of which is unknown. By your statement are you suggesting that this is no big deal?

[barbaram99]

They very people who can make a differce -won't..The talk is cheap as the saying goes..This is 2010 and they can't get off their behinds and pust to move to less oil.. I grew up in small towns years ago and there were very few cars running the roads.. Today that is not so..The govt is the biggist usr of oil,, That is right..
My roommate thinks bike are for kids..I tell him no they are not as they are people power . I use to mow the yard using push mower that manual..The car is dirty and needs an overhaul..I am a poor person with sp needs afrom birth..We did have a sp needs President of the USA..FDR.It is a pity he did not live to push for mass transit for the whole nation..Ye can talk about cleaning the air all ye want but yer won't address the causes of it.. I walk.. The car is the dirtist thing running the roads. So dirty I end up choking on the stuff coming out tailpipk. I have as cars go by or sitting at cross the roads..They very people saw the rig blow up and cause the mess and have the galls to say they will still drill..As a Maine born living in Seattle I am appalled..The message is the nation needs to use less oil..The govt need to start by its use..They use far more than the public does.. Does the Govt grt free oil or what..If they had to pay for the oil they use they would think trice the war machines and wars nation is engaged in. Does they get a break..They must..Nov is coming..The President wants change..Mr President start with using less oil. The 3 Rs - Reuse,reduce,recyle. Yers children make beale to tell ye about that..I use cloth bags that are resusable..The govt needs to make a differnce..

[isanyonefair]

There are promising signs. Gov't agencies are moving to energy efficient lighting to 1) give them a market and 2) create jobs in USA. Also stimulus package includes projects for mass transit.

Real change needed is at the local level though. Cities need to be pushed to adopt alternative mass transit systems & fuel. Light rail and conversion of buses to compressed natural gas.

It is almost criminal how so many cities dismantled their mass transit systems over the years.

We really need to add $2/gal gas tax to change the economics & mindset. Force state legislatures to use it for education & alternative energy generation.

[SCC12364]

"THE BLAME GAME"

Once again Congress and the whole US Government enjoy the privilege of being able to sit and question big CEO's about what went wrong. This time it is the big dog's of the oil companies, last time it was the banks, then it was the auto companies. They sit back and make these people in charge of the biggest companies in the United States look stupid. Remember when the Presidents of Ford, GM, and Dodge all flew to Washington in their private jets?? Remember the criticism they received? Barney Frank, who has all he can do to talk, told them how stupid they were....
Well, if these people who head our biggest companies in the United States were given the opportunity to question the United States Government on all their blunders, how stupid would they look? Could you imagine Barney and Nancy trying to explain where all the bailout money went?? That would be a joke, however, no one ever gets to question the US Government in the same manner they are allowed to question these companies. When you are listening to the questioning of the banks, oil companies, car companies, or whoever they decide to put on the hot plate....anyone can be made to look stupid, and the Government in the same position would look REALLY stupid.

[pasmalltown]

You first must decide exactly what you want of the govenment. Define it's role first, then you can "critisize" their "criticism"...... Everyone makes mistakes, big business and the government. Assessing blame is the easy part once you define the role you'd like each to "play". Not enough gov't oversight or too much? - this is the real issue. And why exactly do you feel that the gov't can't be critical when, in the case of this oil spill, the majority of the blame can't be placed on BP who said that "this type of thing could NEVER happen"???

AND "no one ever gets to question the US Government in the same manner they are allowed to question these companies." REALLY? Don't think this is REALLY true. The gov't is "tried" on a daily basis - it is FOX's primary function and to say otherwise is simply not true, unless you place congressional hearings above the "manner" in which FOX grills the current administration daily.......

[TVO1CITW]

Great timing, Kerry. The Exxon Valdez spilled 10.8 million gallons of oil and this one is at 4 million to date. There were enough changes because of this. Yeah, let's start making changes so you can throw in some of your ear marked proposals on the changes for your district. Do some favors for your friends by using this disaster. What a guy!

[pasmalltown]

And what do you "suppose" is Lieberman's push? It's 4 million to date and has BP given any hope for containment other than untried and untested Plans B,C,D and E?????? Second guess Kerry's motives and timing if you wish, but what's wrong with looking past the end of your nose and exploring other energy sources? AND Kerry says here: "We're not going to stop drilling all of a sudden,...", so why be overly critical of the "timing"?????????

[TVO1CITW]

Then stop drilling or put so many restrictions out there that oil doubles in price. By the way, "accidents" will continue to occur until the end of time. Human error will ALWAYS effect anything whether it is in the ocean or on dry ground. I do not care one bit what Kerry says because I know his views and where he doesn't stand. That is why I will always be suspecious of anything this man does.