It's a political thing. The only reason Jindal is carrying on like a child, over the demand for investigation by the White House, is because that is the 'state of play' in Louisiana.
Jindal and his oil cronies are doing nothing to solve the problems in regard to investigating the disaster. They are simply 'crying' like babies over their oil bonuses. If one looks at the history of the "Jindal Inititative' he has done nothing but complain. The complaining started after he established his Twitter Account then taking the complaints he received, NO MATTER THE LACK OF FACTUAL BASIS, and simply churned out a PR campaign.
...Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the government's point-man in the response, has taken it a step further, suggesting that it might be worth requiring oil companies to drill relief wells in tandem with the main well. He said the idea "would be a legitimate point to be raised" and put in front of a commission investigating drilling regulations.
That would be a considerable expense to oil companies - relief wells can cost $100 million.... (click title to entry)
There is enough 'oil boom' in the Gulf of Mexico to circle Earth's Equator over 108 times. Adm. Thad Allen is doing everything humanly possible to contend with the defective blow out preventer.
His latest news confenence sounded like something out of an engineer's design room. It was highly technical and he is demanding the next 'top hat' placed on the current well head over extends the need of the rate of release of oil and methane.
In other words, he is demanding that collection mechanisms happens in redundancy. The next 'top hat' will be one that can have four collection lines to four secparate 'ships/rigs.' The new capacity of the next collection device will be to a maximum of 160 million barrels per day.
And yes the income from the PB victims compensation fund is taxable. It IS wages. There isn't anything else to call it. Unemployment funds are taxable and so is the 'wage compensation' from BP.
TAXES
The IRS said payments for lost wages from BP's $20 billion victims compensation fund are taxable just like regular income. Payments for physical injuries or property loss are generally tax-free.
NO SHRIMP
Vicki Guillot has served her last seafood po-boy. The local bounty of fresh shrimp and oysters that once kept things bustling in the only restaurant in the rural Louisiana town of Gheens can no longer be harvested from the Gulf of Mexico because of the massive oil spill that has fouled the water. All her distributors can offer her now is imported shrimp at twice the price she was paying 10 weeks ago.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i-yfHJzPLDeBIhG5JDEF6VbaPR8QD9GIJJSO5
Oysters, a tasty treat to many, are also one of the most important inhabitants of our estuaries. They filter pollutants and the reefs they form are habitat to many important species of sea life. And, yes, oysters are a valuable commercial and recreational fishery. These values are often referred to as the three “F's:” food, filter and fish habitat. Our native eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) provide these vital functions free of charge.
•Filter – As filter feeders, oysters remove harmful pollutants, sediment and excess algae from the water. An adult is capable of filtering between 15-35 gallons of water a day.
•Fish Habitat – Oyster reefs provide essential habitat for a diverse collection of aquatic animals, including many important commercial and recreational fish species. One healthy oyster reef can be home to more than an estimated 300 different adult and juvenile organisms including southern flounder, shrimp, clams and blue crabs.
http://www.nccoast.org/restoration-education/oyster-habitat.asp
Millions upon millions of dollars of taxpayer dollars was spend to return THE NATIVE OYSTER to North Carolina. It was a success thanks to Duke University's Marine Biology Department and the state's Marine Fisheries administration.
With the collapse of the Gulf oyster beds, the North Carolina oyster industry has increased in value, yet, the 'idea' oil and oysters can live together 'with risk to the oysters' in the same waters continues.
...Gov. Bev Perdue, a Democrat, is traveling in Germany this week and unable to comment directly, but a spokesman said on her behalf that the incident points to the need to ensure safety for drilling operations.
“It emphasizes the importance of making sure that any drilling off our coast would be safe, which is why the Governor put together an advisory panel of experts to review these issues and make recommendations,” said Tim Crowley, a spokesman for Perdue....
http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/04/29/article/gulf_oil_spill_doesn_t_change_nc_posture
CHASM: Spill reinforces N.C. drilling views
JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: May 1, 2010
The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has deepened the divide between those who support and those who oppose drilling for oil and natural gas off of North Carolina's coast.
Opponents of drilling are using the spill as evidence of what could happen to the state's coastline.
Backers say that even though the spill is cause for concern, the economic benefits outweigh the potential for a disaster such as the one now playing out in the Gulf.
The spill does underscore the risks inherent in offshore drilling, said Orrin Pilkey, a professor emeritus of geology at Duke University in Durham.
"The fact is, drilling in deep water is always a hazard," Pilkey said. "Even with tremendous technology, we haven't solved it, and we probably never will. If we drill off the coast of North Carolina, we have to accept the fact that a spill could happen. It's not a high possibility by means, but it is a possibility."...
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/may/01/chasm-spill-reinforces-nc-drilling-views/news-regional/
What this all boils down to is that the 'money of oil' is more important than the livlihoods of citizens. The citizen doesn't have a chance against the plutocracy.
