Lawmakers vow to pursue oil spill bill

Democrats on Wednesday pressed for new legislation aimed at preventing a repeat of last year’s massive BP oil spill, as Republicans warned that the disaster should not be used to hamper offshore oil and natural gas production. The renewed push to boost government oversight of offshore drilling came as the co-chairs of the White House oil spill commission, Bill Reilly and Bob Graham, made their case for legislation on the issue at two separate congressional hearings.