[ASSURAS] As we mentioned earlier, the president recently outlined a new energy blueprint for America that promotes more offshore oil exploration and production, as long as it's "safe and responsible." Well, some Republicans have teamed up to outline their own plans. Among them is Louisiana Senator David Vitter, who joined me recently to talk about potential new regulations and other changes.

[VITTER] Nobody's arguing that we should go back to the old way and nothing should change. Clearly, there are enormous lessons to learn from this disaster, and I think the single biggest one is that we will have a capture mechanism in place, on call, that the majors, for the most part, developed, for any spill like this in the future, and that's a huge technological advance. So we need to learn and implement those lessons. But we also need to find and produce domestic oil and gas, as well. We need to get back to that business.

[ASSURAS] Let me ask you about your energy plan. It more or less talks about oil and coal, primarily, as the key energy sources in this country, to move forward on those. What about other sources, though, like natural gas -- you've mentioned it just a touch -- and renewables and others?

[VITTER] I am for "all of the above," and I think the consensus American position of the American people is, it's not either/or, it's absolutely "all of the above," and that absolutely includes natural gas and renewables and new technology and all of that. But to get to some of that newer stuff -- not natural gas, but renewables and other things -- we need a bridge to that future, and that's going to be oil and gas for a while.

[ASSURAS] Well, is there potential agreement between Democrats and Republicans in creating that bridge, primarily in terms of cost?

[VITTER] I don't know -- I think there should be, based on what my bill is centered around, because developing these resources right here at home is great for three things -- domestic jobs, which we need, of course, trying to come out of this recession; domestic energy and greater energy independence; and deficit reduction.

[ASSURAS] What's your favorite renewable? Do you have one?

[VITTER] Well, one thing that's really interesting is renewable fuel based on algae. And I'm a little biased because the Gulf, Louisiana could be a big player in that. Also, hydropower. Most folks think of waterfalls or dams, but also the Mississippi River through Louisiana could be a powerful source of hydropower if we refine a little more the technology to put into the river in a nonobtrusive way.

[ASSURAS] Senator Vitter, thanks so much.

[VITTER] Thanks, Thalia, very much.