Rep. Joe Barton Apologizes to BP's Tony Hayward for White House "Shakedown" (Video)

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Updated 3:59 p.m. Eastern Time

BP CEO Tony Hayward is in the midst of a harsh grilling today on Capitol Hill, where he is testifying House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on "The Role of BP in the Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill."

But not long after the hearing began, Hayward got something not many expected from lawmakers: An apology.

Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the committee, apologized to Hayward for what he described as a "shakedown" at the White House yesterday. He was referring to the deal worked out between the Obama administration and BP to set up a $20 billion fund administered by a third party to pay for damages from the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas listens to opening statements from members of Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 17, 2010, prior to BP CEO Tony Hayward testifying before an Energy and Environment subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing on the role of BP in the Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill.

/ AP

"I'm ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday," Barton said. "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."

He complained that "the attorney general of the United States, who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigation and has every right to do so to protect the interests of the American people, [is] participating in what amounts to a $20 billion slush fund that's unprecedented in our nation's history, that's got no legal standing, and which sets, I think, a terrible precedent for the future."

"I apologize," Barton told Hayward. "I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong is subject to some sort of political pressure that is -- again, in my words, amounts to a shakedown. So I apologize."

"I'm speaking now totally for myself," he noted. "I'm not speaking for the Republican Party." House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) later said he disagreed with Barton's characterization, and GOP leaders put out a statement calling his comments "wrong."

Not long after Barton spoke, the White House released a statement calling his comments "shameful."

"What is shameful is that Joe Barton seems to have more concern for big corporations that caused this disaster than the fishermen, small business owners and communities whose lives have been devastated by the destruction," said Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. "Congressman Barton may think that a fund to compensate these Americans is a 'tragedy', but most Americans know that the real tragedy is what the men and women of the Gulf Coast are going through right now. Members from both parties should repudiate his comments."

Rep. Jeff Miller, a Florida Republican, has called for Barton to resign as the ranking Republican on the committee, Politico reports.

"I condemn Mr. Barton's statement," Miller said. "Mr. Barton's remarks are out of touch with this tragedy and I feel his comments call into question his judgment and ability to serve in a leadership on the Energy and Commerce Committee."

According to the Associated Press, Barton has taken more than $100,000 in political contributions from oil and gas interests since the beginning of 2009, more than all but one other member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

While questioning Hayward in the afternoon, Barton offered an apology if his earlier comments were "misconstrued."

"If I might take a small point of personal privilege I want to be absolutely clear that I think BP is responsible for this accident, should be held responsible and should in every way do everything possible to make good on the consequences that have resulted from this accident," he said. "And if anything I said this morning has been misconstrued to the opposite effect I want to apologize for that misconstrued misconstruction."

In a statement he made his apology more explicit.

"I apologize for using the term 'shakedown' with regard to yesterday's actions at the White House in my opening statement this morning, and I retract my apology to BP," he said. "...I regret the impact that my statement this morning implied that BP should not pay for the consequences of their decisions and actions in this incident."

Rep. Ed Markey (D - MA) said at the hearing he "could not disagree more strongly" with Barton's initial comments. 

Watch CBS News Videos Online

"Not only is the compensation fund that was created yesterday at the White House in an agreement reached between BP and President Obama not a slush fund and not a shakedown, rather it was the government of the United States worked to protect the most vulnerable citizens that we have in this country right now - the residents of the Gulf," he said.

"American citizens are being harmed," Markey added. "We cannot wait, as unfortunately so many victims of the Exxon Valdez had to wait years to see those families compensated. We can't lose sight of fact that the 1984 Bhophal disaster and lawsuits related to it, were only settled last week. We have to make sure American citizens are protected."

"The families of the Gulf will be crushed financially unless this compensation fund is put in place," said Markey, arguing that the history of Gulf families will be "permanently altered" without action.

Markey added that the creation of the fund reflected "American government working at its best" to ensure that families do not become "roadkill" as a result of corporate practices.

As Markey spoke, Barton leaned back in his chair reading what appeared to be the newspaper Investor's Business Daily.

[margroks]

What an obnoxious ass. He's clearly in the BP back pocket. BO SHOULD have an escrow fund for this and it's the right and fair thing to do. My only criticism is it isn't enough.

[thesecretary]

Since Barton does not want to live in the United States anymore maybe we can take up a collection for ham a ticket to another country. I beleive China would be a great place for this GOP-because in that country they can chop off his head along with BP CEO Because that is what would happen if you cut corners for profit there. We need all the Barton and other GOPs that think like him out of office. Only we the people have the power to get people who work for these big corperate companys out of office. If the president hadn't have made them set this money aside now they would have found a way to get out of paying later. I invite Joe Barton and other GOPs working for Corperations to leave this country. And 20billion doesnt solve this problem ohers will be suffering for years some things money can not fix
Lost a loved one lately see if you can buy them back

[GOBP]

Another person defending BP! Shameful!

[ntv003]

I am annoyed that people preach about ignorance, but don't listen to their own voices. Barton was not saying that BP is not responsible, and he was not saying that they don't need to compensate the golf for the awful management on their part of highly dangerous operations. He was not letting them off the hook. All he is saying is that we need to watch out how much power we give to the FED. The federal government does not have the rights, or authority to impose actions like this. If it was through cooperation and effort on the part of BP to set this up, and not Imposed by Obama and the Fed, then all is fine. However, the worry is, and it is a valid one at that, that if we as private citizens and private business owners allow the fed to dictate how we do business, where does it end? Where does the line between public and private arise? We can not allow the federal government to mandate the actions of private business on a whim. It is not the feds job to run the private business sector. That is just one step closer to a state run and controlled economic system, which is the antithesis of the capitalistic free market we are supposed to operate in the United States. The private citizen has a right, and the States have rights, the Fed does not rule all, and the fed does not have the ability BY LAW to take actions on the private sector like this. The cash for clunkers program LOST 28 billion of the taxpayers money, I am not sure if we want another Obama run or supported organization to have any more money which they can misplace, 3rd party or not, if Obama's hand is in on it, then the money will get lost. $20 billion is a lot of money which could help a lot of people if in fact it ever gets to them, which I am sure it wont. If Obama was so worried about BP and their practices, then he should have looked at the regulations surrounding deep water drilling the first week he was in office, not after something happens. The issue is that it happened, and we have to deal with it. OBAMA FIX THE FREAKING LEAK! I am tired of hearing about who's fault it all is, and which party is right. There are millions of barrels of oil floating around in the golf right now, and millions more coming. Quit losing sight of the real issue and DO SOMETHING! Stop your preaching about fighting the leak, and the compensation (which if the leak is never stopped, the compensation would be astronomical, I am still not sure how you come up with a 20 billion $ price tag as the number which will compensate the golf), and your preaching about how BP is wrong and evil (are they the new axis of evil the US is to fight?) just stop the leak. What happens if the cost of recovery exceeds $20 billion? what then? you made a deal that $20 billion is the cap, where do you go from there oh great leader? Who is to compensate the golf when three months from now the leak is still going, and more number crunchers realize that $20 billion is not enough? Stop drilling, stop wasting tax payers money on cash for clunkers programs that do nothing but support BIG BUSINESS, when that money was initially allotted for alternate energy fuel research. Now the money given in the bailouts for alternate fuel research, the research we so desperately need is already spent on a program that just put people into cars consuming more gas. Solar power for America, wind farms, tidal power, untapped Geo thermal energy, the sky is the limit, if the FED would do something for the people and not for their approval ratings. Impose alternate fuel sanctions, if you want to control business, make them switch to non fossil, non pollutant sources. Force this change you told us about. The Democrats and the Republicans are at fault for letting policies like this go on, they are at fault for not keeping better tabs over the oil industry. The president does not control the government. The executive, legislative, and judicial branches all together decide how this country works. They all failed on this one, and they are all still failing us. Until I see the government as one body give up this partisan BS, and actually do something to better the situation for ALL Americans, I will consider them all cheats and liars regardless of what party they are on.

[brubuckeye]

I have to agree with much of the second half of your comment. However, regarding the first half, "Where does the line between public and private arise?" It's when the government needs to protect its citizens from the private sector. It's why we have the U.S.D.A. and the F.D.A., and many other governmental agencies. And by the way, "golf" is a game. The "gulf" is flooded with oil.

[snwbrdchk]

This is exactly why the supreme court easing restrictions on corporate campaign contributions is such a travesty. I am sick of people calling our president a Nazi and a Fascist when I feel he is trying to protect a corporate takeover of our political system. People are so selfish they can't see past their own interests. These corporations own us. The government is in no way perfect but at least it is supposed to be in place to protect us. Here's a quote from a psycho named Sharon Angle running for senate: "I hope that's not where we're going. But, you know, if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies." What is THAT supposed to mean? BP is dumping poison into our food supply and this is what you are running on? Are you kidding me? Everyone get your guns and start a revolution? Against what? We don't have a government. We have a bunch of puppets, one apologizing to BP in front of the world. People need to get their priorities straight.

[cmelliott]

This isn't going to "help people" as they are trying to say. This is just another slush fund to get money to the unions that support the left. Joe Barton, we the people support you!

[realityzone]

At least this moron is adhering to the typical republican mentality... ignorance is bliss. republicans are the perfect barometer to measure stupidity.

[Simifanene]

The Corporate American Republican puppets strings have been pulled, but nobody liked the song and dance. Men of little honor, standing up for billionairs and huge corporations, with no representation of the common man. Shame on you. Time for more change.

[babooph]

BP biggie should have learned from the Bush Whitehouse on war crimes-it is not a crime & besides some sgt & pvt did it,& we are prosecuting them now-that has worked PERFECT!!!

[RespectOthersAlways]

Over the years, Rep. Barton has received over $17 million dollars from oil, energy, and other special interests. He got $1.4 million dollars from the oil industry alone. He is a master of the shakedown and the leader of the Republicans Party on oil and energy policy.

It is no accident that Palin, Gingrich, Steele, Scott Brown, and other Tea Bagger Republicans are not calling for Barton to step down. Their silence on this issue is deafening.

These Tea Bagger Republicans cannot find their voice. They are too partisan to call on one of their own to step down because they know very well that Rep. Barton merely put words to what Republicans privately believe and endorse?

Do the right thing Rep. Barton. Step down from the Energy Committee. It is clear to the whole world that you cannot effectively represent or defend the vital interetsts of your constituents and the million of Americans who need better representation and regulations. Step Down! It is the only decent and honorable thing left for you to do!!