And He Would Do It Again

In July 2000, when Sen Vitter (R-LA) was in the House, he introduced a bill that would make penalties under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 “the exclusive criminal penalties” for oil spills:

(a) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision or rule of law, sections 4301(c) and 4302 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-380; 104 Stat. 537) and the amendments made by those sections provide the exclusive criminal penalties for any action or activity that may arise or occur in connection with a discharge of oil or a hazardous substance referred to in section 311(b)(3) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(b)(3)).

This legislation, had it been successful, would have prevented BP from being held liable under another law the Democrats passed in 1990. Any voters who don't already know Vitter and his party are working for the corporation and not the people should take note.