The U.S. Interior Department today proposed opening part of the Atlantic coast to oil and gas drilling, a move that immediately drew criticism from U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker and other members of the New Jersey congressional delegation.

The two Democratic senators cited the damage that an oil spill could cause to New Jersey's tourism industry, fishermen and others who make their living off the state's beaches. Tourism supports 312,000 jobs and creates $38 billion in economic activity every year, they said.

"The oil industry just simply doesn't need our help," Menendez said at a Capitol press conference Booker and fellow Democratic Sens. Ben Cardin of Maryland and Edward Markey of Massachusetts. "The people we should look out are the people who live or work on the Jersey Shore."

... Continue reading article here.