Another day of Oil in Washington

Chiefs from the five major oil companies, including BP, testified before Congress yesterday. Executives from Chevron, Conoco, Exxon Mobile, and Shell all took pains to distance themselves from BP’s negligence during testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “We would not have drilled the well the way they did,” said Rex Tillerson, chief executive of Exxon Mobile.

Meanwhile, lawmakers enjoyed their chance to give BP’s Lamar McKay a public tongue-lashing, with Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) suggesting McKay should tender his resignation. Rep. Joseph Co (R-LA) took his frustration a step further, suggesting, “In samurai days, we would just give you a knife and ask you to commit harakiri.”

The Takeaway’s Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich was on the scene to witness all of the theatrics. He says the hearing served as a venting session for public anger, as well as possibly the beginning of a new push for climate change legislation.