Barton retracts BP apology, regrets 'shakedown' comment

By Aaron Blake

UPDATED at 4:15 p.m.
Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) has retracted his apology to BP, under pressure from top House Republicans.

In comments at a House hearing this morning, Barton apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward for the administration's conduct in securing a $20 billion fund for victims of the Gulf oil spill, calling it a "shakedown."

"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," Barton said in a statement. "As I told my colleagues yesterday and said again this morning, BP should bear the full financial responsibility for the accident on their lease in the Gulf of Mexico.

"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."

It was Barton's second crack at an apology for his initial apology. During the hearing, he returned to say that he was sorry, but only for any "misconstruction" of his comments. His more recent apology differed in that it actually expressed regrets for the content of his remarks.

House GOP leaders put out a statement around the same time as Barton, distancing themselves from his first comments.

(Update 4:50 p.m.: The Washington Post's Paul Kane reports that GOP leadership aides, who asked not to be identified in order to speak candidly, said that House GOP leaders gave Barton an ultimatum -- retract the BP apology or lose his position as ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. They said he will now retain that position unless he causes further controversy.)

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) issued a joint statement. They said Barton's comments that that White House coerced BP into agreeing to a $20 billion fund for claims "were wrong."

"BP itself has acknowledged that responsibility for the economic damages lies with them and has offered an initial pledge of $20 billion dollars for that purpose," the three leaders said.

"The families and businesspeople in the Gulf region want leadership, accountability and action from BP and the Administration," they continued. "It is unacceptable that, 59 days after this crisis began, no solution is forthcoming. Simply put, the American people want all of our resources, time and focus to be directed toward stopping the spill and cleaning up the mess."

The leaders' statement did not mention other members who have offered comments similar to Barton, including Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.). Price has also called the White House's handling of BP a "shakedown."

Barton apologizes for 'misconstruction' of BP apology

3:29 p.m.: Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) is apologizing for any "misconstruction" of his comments this morning, in which he personally apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward for the White House's "shakedown" of the company.

In Barton's second apology, he said he was sorry if anything he said this morning took the blame for the Gulf oil spill off of BP's shoulders.

"Let the record be clear that I think BP is responsible for this accident, should be held responsible, and should in every way to everything possible to make good on the consequences that have resulted from this accident," Barton said. "And if anything I've said this morning has been misconstrued, in opposite effect, I want to apologize for that misconstruction."

Barton has been under considerable pressure ever since apologizing to Hayward this morning for the way in which the White House has treated BP. He said the Obama administration used political pressure to force BP into creating a $20 billion escrow account for claims made against the company.

At least one Republican, Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), has already called for Barton to step down as ranking Republican of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Barton told Politico that he will stay on in his current post.

Vice President Biden, speaking at the daily White House briefing, called Barton's remarks "outrageous" and "incredibly insensitive, incredibly out of touch."

Hayward: $20 billion escrow account is not a 'slush fund'

2:41 p.m.: BP CEO Tony Hayward said Thursday that he doesn't think the $20 billion escrow account his company has agreed to create for oil spill victims amounts to a "slush fund."

"I certainly didn't think it was a slush fund," Hayward said at a hearing before a House subcommittee.

Hayward was responding to comments by the ranking anking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.), who earlier in the hearing accused the White House of a "shakedown" in pressuring BP to open the account. The account will be used to pay claims to those affected by the Gulf Coast oil spill.

Pressed by Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), Hayward repeatedly declined to give a yes-or-no answer about whether he thought the situation represented a "shakedown." But he said the result shouldn't be called a slush fund.

Democrats have denounced Barton for his allegation and sought to use his comments against Republicans by tying them to the oil industry.

Hayward declines to apologize for decisions, Waxman accuses him of stonewalling

12:54 p.m.: An exasperated Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) on Thursday accused BP CEO Tony Hayward of resisting an investigation into his company's role in the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and the ensuing spill.

Waxman asked Hayward if, in addition to apologizing for the spill, he apologized for the decisions he made in advance of the spill.

Hayward demurred.

"We need to determine what were the critical decisions," Hayward said. "I can't make the judgment on those decisions."

Hayward then repeated that he was "not prepared to draw such conclusions."

Waxman, the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, suggested Hayward was professing ignorance about issues he should either have known about or prepared himself for. The congressman noted Hayward was given questions he would likely be asked, in advance of the hearing.

"It's clear to me that you don't want to answer our questions," Waxman said. "You should have some knowledge of these issues."

Waxman closed his question-and-answer time by saying he was amazed at Hayward's performance.

"You're kicking the can down the road as if you have nothing to do with this," Waxman said.

Barton apology to BP not catching on with fellow Republicans

12:48 p.m.: Not all Republicans appear to be on the same page as Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.), who apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward Thursday morning for the way his company has been treated by the White House.

Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Tex.) appeared to take direct aim at his colleague's comments during Burgess's question-and-answer time.

"I am not going to apologize to you," Burgess said to Hayward, referring to the many costs of the environmental disaster. "I don't feel that apologies are in order."

Barton apologized to Hayward earlier in the hearing for the $20 billion escrow fund BP was pressured to create. The congressman's remarks have been lighting up the blogosphere ever since.

Hayward: Spill 'never should have happened'

11:36 a.m.: A contrite BP CEO Tony Hayward said in his opening statement Thursday that he has been deeply affected by the fallout from the company's oil spill in the Gulf and said the spill "never should have happened."

Hayward began his remarks by saying that he is "deeply sorry" and that he has been "personally devastated" by the situation.

He said he was "shattered" when he attended a memorial service for those who died in the explosion that preceded the spill. He also said he sympathizes with those who have been affected by event, both personally and financially.

He said he hoped the company's agreement to build a $20 billion fund for claims will earn it the benefit of the doubt with those being affected.

"I understand what they're going through, and I promise them as I promise you, that we will make this right," Hayward said. "After yesterday's announcement, I hope they feel that we are on the right track."

Republicans criticize Obama on oil spill, say BP's Hayward shares blame

11:20 a.m.: While Democrats hammered away at BP and its CEO, Tony Hayward, at a hearing Thursday, Republicans offered divergent reactions to the disaster.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas.), the ranking member on the subcommittee holding the hearing, apologized for the political pressure being applied to BP, but other members were more forceful with Hayward.

"It appears that BP has not learned from its past mistakes," Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said.

"Why is BP's record on safety so spotty?" Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) asked rhetorically.

Several Republicans focused on the role of the Obama administration in the spill, with one of them saying an administration official should have been seated alongside Hayward at the witness table.

Republicans have repeatedly criticized the lack of testimony from officials, including those at the Minerals Management Service (MMS).

The GOP members also said the administration is using the hearing as a means to advance its energy policies.

"Right now the administration and its allies are more focused on politics and putting the oil industry out of business," Sullivan said. "The administration is exploiting this disaster to advance this disastrous cap and trade energy policy."

Rep. Parker Griffith (R-Ala.) used his opening statement to decry the environmental impact and danger of smoking.

Democrats come out swinging against BP's Hayward, while Republican apologizes

10:27 a.m.: House Democrats set a harsh tone for Thursday's hearing featuring BP chief executive Tony Hayward, while a top Republican apologized to Hayward for being forced to create a $20 billion escrow account for claims stemming from the disaster.

The Democrats said in their opening statements that Hayward and his company repeatedly ignored warning signs in advance of the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.

"BP's corporate complacency is astonishing," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the chairman of the full House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Waxman cited an e-mail from an engineer that dismissed the spill by saying, "We'll probably be fine." Waxman said it was characteristic of the company's response.

"There is a complete contradiction between BP's words and deeds," Waxman said. "Under your leadership, BP has taken the most extreme risks.

"We are seeing the same corporate indifference that cause collapse on Wall Street."

The ranking Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee did provide the CEO some defense. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said the $20 billion the White House forced BP to put into escrow for claims against the company amounts to a "shakedown."

"I'm ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday," Barton said. "I apologize. I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or corporation does anything wrong," they are subjected to such political pressure.

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), the chairman of the subcommittee holding the hearing, said what congressional investigators have learned so far is "alarming."

"We've learned that time and time again that BP had warning signs that this was a 'nightmare well,'" Stupak said.

Stupak referenced comments by BP executives that some see as dismissive of the impact of the spill. Hayward has said he wants "his life back," while BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said Wednesday that BP is concerned about "the small people."

"We are not 'small people,' but we do want our lives back," Stupak said.

(Update 11:57 a.m.: The White House responds to Barton's statement:

"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. 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.")

ORIGINAL POST: Live blog: Tony Hayward to appear at House hearing

BP chief executive Tony Hayward will be at the disposal of angry members of Congress Thursday, when he testifies in front of a House subcommittee looking into the environmental disaster on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.

Subcommittee Chairman Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) has promised that Hayward will be "sliced and diced," and other members of the committee are unlikely to be much friendlier.

According to advance remarks of Hayward's testimony obtained by AP, the CEO will say he is "personally devastated" by the disaster.

"To be sure, neither I nor the company is perfect," the remarks say. "But we are unwavering in our commitment to fulfill all our responsibilities."

Check back to this post for regular updates on the goings-on in the Rayburn House office building. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. eastern time.

By Aaron Blake  |  June 17, 2010; 10:00 AM ET