Posted on 12/21/2005 3:05:46 AM PST by Anti-Bubba182
WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Both sides in a U.S. Senate debate over opening an Alaskan wildlife refuge to oil drilling expected a close vote on Wednesday over the latest attempt by Senate Republicans to pass the measure, this time by adding it to a big military-spending bill.
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, known as ANWR, which sprawls along Alaska's northern coast and may hold 10 billion barrels of oil, has been the focus of bitter wrangling in Congress for more than two decades.
Most Senate Democrats and some moderate Republicans say the frigid wilderness and its assortment of wildlife, ranging from polar bears to peregrine falcons, should be protected. Republicans contend the refuge must be opened to drilling to stop a steady slide in U.S. crude-oil production.
Republican Ted Stevens of Alaska attached the measure to a $453 billion defense-spending bill that pays for U.S. troops and Pentagon weapons programs in the coming year. Furious Democrats threatened to block the measure with a filibuster, saying the ANWR measure has no connection to military spending and violates Senate rules.
With Congress moving to wrap up its work for the year, both Democrats and Republicans said the situation was fluid with some senators still undecided on whether to support a filibuster that would effectively talk the bill to death.
Republicans have to muster 60 votes to stop a filibuster. They hold 55 seats in the Senate while Democrats have 44 seats. There is one independent.
"I think it will be a very close vote," said Democratic Leader Harry Reid. "This is going to be a hard day."...."
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
I was listening to Rush the other day and I believe he said McCain's torture bill is attached to this funding bill also. If the Dems filibuster this the torture bill will fail as well, at least for now. So there is a silver lining.
Our enemies and "friends" in this world won't like us better if we pass such a bill and McCain must know it.
, the "torture" bill has a lot more chance of passing.
If the torture bill passes, so does ANWR. They are both part of the budget package. Unless the usually cowardly Pubs pull the ANWR part out at the last minute. We'll see.
That's the key.
Democrats expressed concern about whether Christopher Dodd of Connecticut could get to Capitol Hill to cast a vote. Dodd, a drilling opponent, is recovering from major surgery.
Look for Dodd to be wheeled in on a gurney---with IVs dripping into his veins---and white-coated doctors standing by looking concerned (and telling the media how they tried in vain to talk Dodd out of it because of his health!). And the MSM will swooooooon!
Geez, these guys are soooo predictable.
"..Unless the usually cowardly Pubs pull the ANWR part out at the last minute. We'll see."
That's the key."
Even if the senate pubbies want to cave, they can't. The anwr provision is in the conference committee {between house/senate} and they would have to get house approval. The house is gone for the year. Try to round up those 435 bandits several days before "holiday-mas". You'd have a better chance in finding a legal mexican in san diego.
I wonder if there is going to be a filibuster?
"I am a conservative Republican. I have never voted for a Democrat. I oppose the drilling in this National Refuge. I think we need to gradually change from our present cars to other technological cars. We need to get away from the fossil fuels. Until a legitimate attempt is made to do this, I oppose this. Also, I would ban the tobacco industry which is another idea certain conservatives oppose"
Well, you a maybe pro-military republican, but you are NOT conservative. Ban the tobacco industry. Did you ever hear about the success of the prohibition of alcohol? How about the war on drugs? You are truely NUTS.
"We need to get away from fossil fuels" you state your opinion as if it is a fact. Why? What would we do with the oil if we don't use it? There are more benefits than negatives that come from the use of oils. You are an envirowhacko with a lot of feelings but not many facts. Typical.
Even if it fails for now, it will give Bush more ammo to use in his new-found public talks. I wouldn't mind him talking about the price of oil/gas, etc. and pointing out how the Dims will keep saying something must be done, but keep blocking all attempts to alleviate the situation. We're finally getting into some win-win situations in the WOD (War On Dims).
If the Dems filibuster I hope the Repubs launch an all out 06 ad touting how Dems stopped a Defense spending bill. See how that one goes over with the average Joe
Filibuster wins.
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