WH pushing law increasing BP’s liability for Gulf Coast oil spill

WH pushes to lift liability cap for Gulf spill

WASHINGTON — The White House is pushing to lift a liability cap that could limit how much BP pays for the Gulf Coast oil spill.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday the administration wants to change a law that caps at $75 million BP’s liability for economic damages like lost wages.

BP is responsible for all clean-up costs under the law, but Gibbs said that other costs “could easily top $75 million in a short period of time.”

Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey is co-sponsoring a measure that would raise the liability cap to $10 billion.

Gibbs said the administration was working on how such legislation might work. He reiterated the administration’s intention to get BP to pay all costs.