President Barack Obama firmly defended his record on oil drilling Thursday, ordering the government to fast-track an Oklahoma pipeline while accusing Congress of playing politics with a larger Canada-to-Gulf Coast project.

President Barack Obama firmly defended his record on oil drilling Thursday, ordering the government to fast-track an Oklahoma pipeline while accusing Congress of playing politics with a larger Canada-to-Gulf Coast project.

President Barack Obama firmly defended his record on oil drilling Thursday, ordering the government to fast-track an Oklahoma pipeline while accusing Congress of playing politics with a larger Canada-to-Gulf Coast project.

In a speech in Oklahoma on Thursday, the president is expected to announce streamlined permitting for TransCanada#39;s pipeline from Cushing to the Gulf Coast, but there was some confusion Wednesday about what permits are pending.

President Barack Obama is pledging his administration will stick with the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast until the job of rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina is done.