The President says the $100 million will go into the Interior Department, which is the agency that oversees offshore drilling. It underwent a lot of reorganization in the wake of the Gulf oil spill from earlier this year.
Right now, the government collects $20 million in fees from oil and gas companies. If this proposal is approved next year, they'd collect $45 million.
The president says the fee hikes and other changes are necessary to strengthen oversight of offshore oil and gas operations, address 'deficiencies' in mineral revenue collection and complete the re-organization of the agency formerly known as the Mineral Management Services.
All of this is happening while BP crews resumed drilling a relief well in the Gulf and as scientists and officials with the Louisiana National Guard say oil continues to wash up on marshes.
