House Leaders: Oil Keeps Flowing, Money Drying Up in U.S. Economy

June 13, 2010— -- In an EXCLUSIVE "This Week" debate, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., discussed the budget, the oil spill in the Gulf, Israel and looked toward the elections in November. There were some sparring between the two leaders, but also something much stranger: agreement.

"BP has not been accurate in its representations. It has been misleading ... [and] what has happened is outrageous, and the American public are, correctly, very, very angry," Hoyer said.

"Well, Steny, guess what? I agree wholeheartedly with you," Boehner said. "The American people want this oil leak stopped now.

"They want to know what happened. They want the Gulf cleaned up. And they want it all done now," the House Minority leader said. "I just think that BP ought to be held responsible for all of the costs that are involved in this."

Boehner explained he wanted to change to current law so that BP would be responsible not just for the cost of cleanup but also for more economic damages than current law allows.

"I think lifting the liability cap on BP and for this spill is appropriate," Boehner said.

"This Week" host Jake Tapper asked, "So lift it entirely for BP?"

"Absolutely," Boehner said. "They should be held responsible for every dime of this cost."

Tapper asked the leaders about a letter released by President Obama Saturday which called for swift passage of a $50 billion aid package for states and local governments. Tapper asked if Hoyer would be able to pass the bill given the current attitude toward spending on Capitol Hill.

"It's accurate that there's spending fatigue, not only on Capitol Hill, but around the country," Hoyer said. "People are concerned about the debt level, and we are, as well.

"What the president is saying is, we need to expend additional dollars to make sure that we don't have significant layoffs in the next few months, which will again depress the economy," Hoyer said.

The House Majority leaders indicated the president hoped to find the money from the $787 billion stimulus act passed early last year.