I predict that by July 4th of this year there will be a 'gallon tax' on all gas sold in the country to fund the Supercleanup of the Gulf.
Too late by a few days, Richard, they are already discussing it.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9FTDV7O1

It is an artful adjustment, though.

1)Tax all the big, bad oil companies (Read: Consumers) to pay money into a fund to fund cleanup.

2) When an oil company has a spill, fine them for the spill, regardless of whether they were following the rules or not (and trust me, there's no way for anyone to truly follow all the federal regulations on ANYTHING! If they want to fine you, they're going to)

3) Sit back an spend your oil spill money (read slush fund) on whatever the hell you want, as it is now general revenue, and the bad oil company (again, read Consumers, as in US) has paid for the spill cleanup through fines.

4) Lawyers on both sides get together after the court proceedings and laugh their collective rear ends off as they enjoy their slice of taxpayer money. You don't think they're doing this pro bono, do you?