“Stopping The Spill Is Our First Priority”
Er, well, except when the Nanny State has to intervene
Eight days ago, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal ordered barges to begin vacuuming crude oil out of his state’s oil-soaked waters. Today, against the governor’s wishes, those barges sat idle, even as more oil flowed toward the Louisiana shore.
Louisiana Governor Jindal frustrated over decision-making red tape.“It’s the most frustrating thing,” the Republican governor said today in Buras, La. “Literally, yesterday morning we found out that they were halting all of these barges.”
Sixteen barges sat stationary today, although they were sucking up thousands of gallons of BP’s oil as recently as Tuesday. Workers in hazmat suits and gas masks pumped the oil out of the Louisiana waters and into steel tanks. It was a homegrown idea that seemed to be effective at collecting the thick gunk.
“These barges work. You’ve seen them work. You’ve seen them suck oil out of the water,” said Jindal.
“The Coast Guard came and shut them down,” Jindal said. “You got men on the barges in the oil, and they have been told by the Coast Guard, ‘Cease and desist. Stop sucking up that oil.'”
Un-freakin-believable.
Well, actually, sadly, completely believable.
Nanny State, Politics | Mr. Bingley | 
June 18, 2010 6:56 am
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Outrageous.
Bush took hell over Katrina, but it’s not like he ordered the Coast Guard to intercept relief aid to the area.
From the story: The Coast Guard needed to confirm that there were fire extinguishers and life vests on board, and then it had trouble contacting the people who built the barges.
Yes, seriously. The frickin’ US COAST GUARD is now enforcing OSHA requirements?
I hardly understand why the Coast Guard, of all people, would come and shut down an operation that clearly worked. I guess everyone is caught up in “red tape”, it appears.
While I’m all for safety the OSHA rules are ridiculous. Wanna bet the guys operating the barges know something about life jackets and fire extinguishers? This is just getting beyond being believable.
OSHA is a dumping ground for failed bureaucrats.
As for the Coasties……methinks that they were ordered to do this.
Waddaya expect with the Perpetual Rookie in charge?
Er… um… not sure “in charge” is the most apt phrase, but you know what I mean.