Republicans urge Obama to OK offshore oil drilling

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – House Republicans on Wednesday urged President Barack Obama not to close areas off the U.S. Atlantic and Pacific coastlines to oil and natural gas drilling.

The Republican lawmakers asked Obama to allow a 5-year plan proposed at the very end of the Bush administration that would expand offshore drilling to go forward.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has said he would review the drilling proposal, along with other “midnight” Bush regulations.

“We respectfully urge that you allow the five-year offshore drilling plan to continue because it is vital to our economy,” the lawmakers, led by House Republican Leader John Boehner, said in a letter to Obama.

Reuters