Accusing the Obama administration of foot dragging on granting new permits to drill in the Gulf's deep waters, Rep. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania and more than 20 other Republicans are sponsoring a bill that would override the Obama administration's increased safety measures for deepwater drilling and force it to grant permits for more than 30 offshore drilling projects approved during the Bush administration. Energy economists say such wells would take years to begin producing and would not have a significant effect on pump prices.
Gerald Herbert / AP / File
