Congressman Kirk blasted for his ties to BP Oil Company

For Immediate Release

June 17, 2010

Contact: Deirdre Murphy, (202) 485-3129

DECISION TIME: CONGRESSMAN KIRK SILENT ON COLLEAGUE’S APOLOGY TO BRITISH PETROLEUM – WILL HE STAND WITH BIG OIL YET AGAIN?

GOP Congressman Barton Apologized To BP CEO Tony Hayward For The "Political Pressure" His Company Is Facing, Calls $20 Billion Commitment “Shakedown”

Time for Congressman Kirk To Denounce Or Embrace Colleague’s Astounding Remarks

A key Republican Congressman apologized to British Petroleum C.E.O. Tony Hayward today during a congressional hearing, over the insistence that the Big Oil company create a fund to pay for all of the economic damages to residents of the Gulf coast resulting from the catastrophic oil spill. Congressman Joe Barton of Texas called the fund a “$20 billion shakedown” and said he was “ashamed” of the White House’s actions and offered his sincere apology to BP and it’s CEO Tony Hayward. Due to Congressman Kirk’s support for Big Oil, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is asking Congressman Kirk to denounce these comments from his Republican colleague immediately.

“Congressman Kirk has spent his career standing-up for Big Oil,” said DSCC Communications Director Eric Schultz. “Today, Congressman Kirk ought to denounce his colleague for crossing the line rather than embrace his apology to British Petroleum and its C.E.O. Congressman Kirk can either be ashamed of the White House for securing $20 billion to pay for damages, or he can be ashamed of his colleague for his shameless shilling for big oil.”

Today, a Republican colleague of Congressman Kirk offered his apology to Big Oil company British Petroleum and it’s CEO. Thus far, Congressman Kirk has also been a steadfast ally for his Big Oil backers. In light of his colleague’s tone deaf remarks today, will Congressman Kirk denounce this apology to BP or will he stay silent?”

Kirk Has Received Over $67,000 From Oil and Gas. Over his career, Kirk has taken $67,200 in campaign cash from the oil and gas industries. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 6/14/10]