Lucas to Obama: disappointed though not surprised

Lucas to Obama: Don't Politicize Crisis in Gulf
to Push Cap and Tax Policy

WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Frank Lucas issued the following statement after President Obama's Oval Office address on the BP oil spill.

"I am disappointed, though not surprised, that President Obama is trying to use the Gulf oil spill crisis to push his disastrous cap and tax policy. The widening environmental crisis in the Gulf is a tragedy and those who were negligent should be held accountable. This includes the Obama administration, which has been slow to respond to this disaster and has demonstrated a lack of leadership and organization in dealing with this crisis.

"The administration should focus on stopping the oil spill and preventing further damage to the environment and our economy, rather than to use the situation as an opportunity for political gain and to push a liberal agenda.

"Punishing those who live and work in rural America with a cap and tax policy that will result in lost jobs, higher energy costs and higher food prices does nothing to address the shortcomings of the administration's response to this crisis. "