Sunday shows: Energy policy post-spill

Energy policy, immigration and the military’s ban on gay soldiers will lead the Sunday talk show circuit this Memorial Day weekend.

As British Petroleum and the federal government battle the massive Gulf oil spill and Congress considers energy legislation, Carol Browner, assistant to the president for energy and climate change, will appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), who has been highly critical of BP, also will appear on “Face the Nation.”

{mosads}As chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, Markey helped the House pass energy and climate legislation a year ago.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), who has criticized the federal government’s response to the oil spill, will appear on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Also appearing on “Face the Nation” is Robert Dudley, BP’s managing director, and Ed Overton, professor of environmental studies at Louisiana State University.

BP has reportedly been making progress in plugging the well and stopping the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico’s waters. President Barack Obama flew down to the Gulf coast on Friday to survey the damage, promising support on all fronts. It could take through the weekend to determine if efforts to stop the leak have worked.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who backs ending the ban on gays serving openly in the military, will appear on CNN and “Fox News Sunday” to discuss the policy. If Congress approves the repeal, the Defense Department could end the ban 60 days after military leaders receive a report on potential effects of the changes.

Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) will discuss the issue on CNN, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who also supports repealing the ban, will appear on ABC’s “This Week.”

The House voted on an amendment Thursday to overturn the ban in the Defense authorization bill Friday. A Senate panel also has approved repealing the ban and the Senate will deal with the issue when it returns from the Memorial Day recess.

Also on “Meet the Press,” Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Hispanic Caucus, and Republican Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth (Ariz.) will discuss immigration.

Gutierrez has authored a comprehensive immigration bill in the House and Hayworth has backed the new law in Arizona.