CNN "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees" - Transcript

Interview

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REP. STEVE SCALISE (R), LOUISIANA: I want to ask you: who is in charge on the ground?

HAYWARD: The National Incident Commander is the person in charge of this operation.

SCALISE: So is the federal government telling you what to do? Are you telling the incident commander what to do? When our local officials say we need something approved, do they need to get the incident commander and your approval? Because they're getting run around in circles right now.

HAYWARD: Well, we're trying to -- we're not being perfect, so I acknowledge that. And we're trying very hard to do better.

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COOPER: Not perfect. It's quite an understatement.

I spoke with Congressman Scalise shortly after the hearing.

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COOPER: So what did you think of Tony Hayward?

SCALISE: Well, you could tell that that he came really just -- just, I think, prepared to obfuscate. He didn't answer most of the questions.

And, I mean, frankly, I wanted to see a sense of urgency from Tony Hayward. I still, to this day -- for over a month now, I have not seen a sense of urgency from BP or the federal government in the fact that you need a change -- chain of command where decisions can get made quickly.

And, Anderson, what I mean with that is, in -- within a day, within 24 hours from when our local officials say, this is what we need to solve this problem, they -- they right now are taking over five days.

COOPER: And you are not seeing that? That -- that chain of command -- is that right, five days, that's your estimate? Because, I mean, early on --

SCALISE: It's taking five days, is what most leaders are telling me.

COOPER: Weeks ago, when the President came here on the second trip, that was supposed to be cleared up. The local officials were getting Coast Guard representatives, who allegedly could make decision-making -- had decision-making authority. You're saying that's not happening?

SCALISE: No. And, in fact, just a few days ago, one of the leaders on the ground said that he is spending more of his time fighting with the federal government and BP than he is fighting the oil. There's no excuse for that.

I mean, we're -- we're now two months into this disaster, and you still have this problem on the ground where our local leaders -- and I mean, look, Anderson, one of the big frustrations is, our local leaders seem to be the only ones who are coming up with ideas to protect our marsh from the oil. All they're being told from both BP and the federal government is no. And they just find too many ways to say no, instead of having real alternatives. They don't have any alternatives. All they do is tell our folks, well, there's reasons why we don't want to do this or that, instead of saying, we want to work with you to stop this problem from getting into the marshes and the ecosystems here in the Coast of Louisiana.

COOPER: Congressman, I appreciate your time tonight. Thank you very much.

SCALISE: Thank you, Anderson.

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