Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Obama Meets With BP Executives VOA News 16 June 2010 BP CEO Tony Hayward (L), BP America Chairman Lamar McKay (C), BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg (2nd R), and other BP officials arrive at the White House for a meeting with President Barack Obama, 16 Jun 2010 Photo: AP BP CEO Tony Hayward (L), BP America Chairman Lamar McKay (C), BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg (2nd R), and other BP officials arrive at the White House for a meeting with President Barack Obama, 16 Jun 2010 U.S. President Barack Obama is meeting at the White House with BP executives to demand they set up a fund to pay for the damage caused by the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In a speech to the nation late Tuesday, the president said he would demand the company set aside whatever resources are required to compensate those affected by what he called the company's "recklessness." The disaster began April 20 when an oil rig exploded off the coast of Louisiana. The president described the oil spill as the worst environmental disaster the country has ever faced.  After the president's speech, BP said in a statement that it shares Mr. Obama's goal of cleaning up the spill and helping those affected. Some lawmakers are calling for BP to put as much as $20 billion into a special compensation fund. In other developments, BP said Wednesday oil and gas are flowing through a second containment system attached to the ruptured well. The oil and gas are burned after reaching a rig on the surface. The latest estimate puts the amount of oil gushing from the damaged well each day at between 35,000 to 60,000 barrels. Already, oil has reached the fragile Gulf coastlines from the states of Louisiana to Florida, killing wildlife and affecting the livelihoods of millions of people who live in the region. During his address, President Obama said the United States will be fighting the effects of the oil spill for years. He called on the country to move toward clean energy as a way to avoid such a disaster in the future. But Republicans accused the president of politicizing the tragedy. The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, said the president has demonstrated an inability to lead the country out of a disaster, and that the actions of his administration show an "appallingly arrogant political calculus." President Obama has assigned Navy Secretary and former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus to develop a long-term restoration plan for the Gulf with the help of communities, businesses, fishermen and Native American tribes most affected by the spill. The president this week made his fourth trip to the Gulf region since the oil spill began. His speech came just hours after he returned from Florida, where he toured beaches and discussed clean-up and response efforts. Critics have accused the Obama administration of being slow to respond to the disaster. A new poll by the Associated Press shows a majority of Americans (52 percent) say they do not approve of President Obama's handling of the Gulf oil spill, although far more blame BP for its response to the catastrophe.  Some information for this report was provided by AP. .