SARASOTA — Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, plans to introduce legislation designed to hold oil companies accountable for offshore spills, and to reform the federal government’s oversight process, he said today.
He said his plan would rescind liability protections for oil companies, and require that regular inspections occur on schedule.
"BP cut a lot of corners," Buchanan said during a press conference at Lido Beach.
Noting that 92 million to 150 million gallons of oil have leaked into the Gulf of Mexico so far from BP's Deepwater Horizon well, Buchanan said the federal agency overseeing federal drilling had "sided with big oil and BP" at the expense of the public.
He plans to file his legislation Tuesday.