AlanfromBigEasy (New Orleans native) often says something similar, to the effect of "just let us keep half the oil and we'll fix it ourselves!"
GOM area frustration with the federal government is growing.
Who is "us"?  The oil is already "kept" by the GOM-area-based corporations, but they see themselves as having no responsibility for others in the area.  The feds have nothing directly to do with this arrangement, it's called "capitalism".
It's not my words. shrug