House to vote this week on bill giving subpoena power to panel investigating BP oil spill

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House to vote on subpoena power for spill panel

WASHINGTON — House Democratic leaders plan to pass a bill this week that would give subpoena power to the panel investigating the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said House leaders plan to vote on the bill as early as Wednesday and he expects it to pass.

President Barack Obama has appointed a seven-member commission to investigate the spill. Hoyer said the commission needs subpoena power to get to the bottom of the nation’s largest oil spill.