Time For BP Shareholder sensenbrenner to step down from oil spill probe

[Dinger]

Edited on Thu Jun-17-10 01:42 PM by Dinger
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=200273

MENOMONEE FALLS, WI (June 17, 2010)—As news broke that Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner has not sold any of the $1.25 million of his holdings in BP and other oil industry stock, his opponent, Todd Kolosso, called on him to remove himself from the House Judiciary Committee investigation into the oil-spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

“The obvious conflict of interest here is disturbing to anyone who values fairness and accountability,” said Kolosso, who is running to unseat the 32-year incumbent in Wisconsin’s 5th Congressional District. “It appears the Congressman’s primary interest is in protecting the oil industry and his own portfolio, not in seeking justice for the families, fisheries, businesses, and wildlife that have been devastated by the spill.”

Sensenbrenner’s most recent Congressional financial disclosure statement reveals that he has divested himself of the Kimberly-Clark fortune in stock that he inherited from his family. Worth over $9 million in stocks and other holdings, he has yet to divest his portfolio of BP or other oil industry stock, despite an AP investigative report highlighting the potential conflict of interest should he refuse to recuse himself from the oil-spill investigation.

“The Congressman says he gave away his Kimberly-Clark stock as a gift to his children,” said Kolosso. “He should give a gift to all of our children and either divest himself of his oil industry stock or step down from the investigation and let those who have no conflicts of interest sit in judgment of BP.”

[Jove1024]

1. Frank's MO

This doesn't surprise me. Sensenbrenner has never had to play
by the rules. He has led a privileged life as a result of the
work and sacrifice of others: His grandfather, the thousands
of Kimberly-Clark employees when their jobs were moved to
Mexico.  

Thinking the rules don't apply to him is nothing new. As the
ranking Republican on the House Select Committee on Energy
'INDEPENDENCE' and Global Warming, the fact that he even owns
a significant investment in foreign oil, to begin with, is
appalling. He can not be an impartial advocate for Energy
Independence as he lacks independence himself.

•If he were an accountant, he would not be eligible to audit
BP - because he's not independent.
•If he were an attorney representing a victim of BP, he could
not - because there's a clear conflict of interest.
•If he were a judge hearing a liability case regarding BP, he
would have to recuse himself as a conflict of interest exists.

The fact that he fails to see the perceived lack of
independence really demonstrates his disdain for the public's
interest, and belief that he is 'Above the Rules'.    
    

And despite overwhelming scientific evidence, he says global
warming is a myth. He wants to abolish the EPA. Nothing new
here.

He has, and will always, only care about one thing: Jim
Sensenbrenner

[NNN0LHI]

2. Welcome to DU

[Jove1024]

3. Thanks

Thanks. Longtime reader, first time poster.