Presidential Spill Panel Regroups to Press Reform The seven-member commission selected by President Barack Obama to investigate the Gulf oil spill is getting back together. This time, it will press for action to improve drilling safety. The re-formed group plans to issue a report card on actions taken by Congress, the administration and the industry next month, around the second anniversary of the disaster. William K. Reilly, a Republican and co-chair of the panel, said the group had become "increasingly concerned" that efforts to implement its safety recommendations are waning. Last January, the panel called for a series of steps from boosting budgets and training to increasing the liability cap for companies drilling offshore. With high gasoline prices, the focus of Republicans and the White House has turned to boosting domestic oil and gas production.