WBRZ - Baton Rouge

In Washington, a House panel approved legislation that would overhaul the Minerals Management Service, the agency responsible for regulating offshore drilling. The bill sets to divide the agency into three parts: one for leasing and permitting; one for inspections and investigations; and another to collect revenue.

The bill would also clamp down on the close relations between the government and the oil industry by adding a two-year ban on offshore drilling regulators taking jobs with certain companies.

The House Natural Resources Committee passed the bill Thursday 27-21. Most Democrats supported it, but all the Republicans on the panel were opposed to it.