MSNBC "Hardball with Chris Matthews" - Transcript
Interview
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OLBERMANN: Joining me now, as promised, Congressman Ed Markey of Massachusetts, chairman of the energy and environment subcommittee.
Congressman, thanks for your time tonight.
REP. ED MARKEY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Thanks for having me on.
OLBERMANN: Before we get to Judge Feldman"s ruling, do you have any better idea than we do about this report out of the "A.P." that Secretary Salazar is going to impose a moratorium on drilling?
MARKEY: I don"t. I just heard about it. But I think it is a wise decision. If he"s made it, just go right back at him. If there"s another legal authority that makes it possible for him to impose moratoria on these 33 rigs before them and check for safety, then I think he"s making just the right decision.
OLBERMANN: And Judge Feldman"s decision today and especially in light of the investment portfolio that we were made aware of, what"s your reaction to that?
MARKEY: Well, something has to explain Judge Feldman"s decision. It"s the worst decision since the referee in the USA-Slovenia soccer game last week, also inexplicable. If anyone was arbitrary and capricious, it was Judge Feldman in this case. It"s clear that these rigs need to be checked for safety. It"s clear that MMS fell down on the job. It"s clear that the oil industry did not put into place proper safeguards.
And it would be reckless for these rigs to be allowed to operate in ultra-deepwater until there is a full safety inspection.
OLBERMANN: We have a further update right now from the "A.P." and I"ll get your reaction to this if I can. Mr. Salazar said in a statement this evening that the new order will contain additional information making clear why the six-month drilling pause was necessary in the wake of the Gulf oil spill. The judge in New Orleans who struck down the moratorium earlier in the day complained there was not enough justification for it and one additional paragraph here: "Salazar pointed to indications of inadequate safety precautions by industry on deepwater wells." He said he would issue a new order in the coming days showing that a moratorium is needed.
Your reaction to that as we get a little more flesh on these bones.
MARKEY: Good. Well, what he clearly has done is fill out the record.
So, for example, Transocean--this rig which BP was using was a Transocean rig, which by the way was registered in the Marshall Islands. In the Marshall Islands, Transocean then was able to select the company which would then determine whether or not the rig was safe. Then, Transocean can move that rig, Marshall Island registered, into the Gulf of Mexico, into American waters, and they have complied with the safety regulations.
Now, it"s one thing to drill offshore, it"s another thing to offshore your safety regulations--which is what has been happening. And so, to go back to review, to see where the holes are in this safety process is something that I think is necessary. And if it"s not fully and completely finished, could lead to irreparable harm because the one thing we don"t need is two rigs at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.
OLBERMANN: And it"s superb to see the secretary of the interior doing something and doing something in a hurry in the wake of that ruling. Congressman Ed Markey of Massachusetts, happening to be with us as we try to understand the breaking news--thank you for your insight and for helping us do so, sir.
MARKEY: Thank you.
OLBERMANN: Fewer words, more pictures when we return to the Gulf and a report filed specifically for us by our correspondent Kerry Sanders who"s literally in the Gulf. That report that the--what remains of the rig is tilting over more than the statue of--the Tower of Pisa is leaning over.
And also, tonight"s "Special Comment": McChrystal and resignation and the stories of Abizaid, Zine (ph), Fallon and John Pope.
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OLBERMANN: Banking a little time for the upcoming Special Comment on McChrystal, do not Tweet, do not collect 200 followers. Let"s play Oddball.
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