NJ lawmakers ask Obama to reverse drilling plan

WASHINGTON (AP) - Four New Jersey lawmakers are calling for President Barack Obama to reverse his plan for new offshore oil and gas drilling in light of the giant Gulf Coast oil spill.

The Democratic lawmakers said they welcomed the White House's assurance Friday that no additional offshore drilling will be authorized until an investigation of that accident is completed. But they said the president should go further and reverse his March 31 proposal to allow more offshore drilling.

The letter was signed by the state's two senators, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, as well as Reps. Frank Pallone and Rush Holt. It said New Jersey should not become "the next test case for the oil companies' experiment in how to maximize profits and minimize regulations."

The White House says Obama will visit central New Jersey on Wednesday.