Budget Battle Looms For Energy And Environment

The president once again asks Congress to do away with billions in tax breaks for fossil fuel interests, over the outcries of the oil and gas industry.

The request deals with policies that involve some of the sharpest disagreements between the administration and Congress, which will debate it line by line.

Spending at the Department of Interior would remain at roughly the same level as past years, but with a major increase, to $358 million, for environmental and safety enforcement for offshore oil and gas drilling, to be offset largely with royalties and fees from oil companies.