White House Can't Win ANWR Debate, Says Environmentalist

CNSNews ^ | 2/27/02 | Matt Pyeatt

[anniegetyourgun]

"...said the White House lacked enough votes to win Senate passage of the measure..."

If they tell themselves this enough times.....

[Piquaboy]

Another example of Dasshole pushing his socialist agenda. The senate is now run under a dictatorship and the Republicans may as well pack their bags and go home.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

We are wasting valuable time debating this issue,something has to be done.President BUSH should,under the guise if national security issue an executive order,DRILL!

[Miss Marple]

"...said the White House lacked enough votes to win Senate passage of the measure..."

Well, maybe the White House lacks the votes, but I bet Jimmy Hoffa has them.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

America favors drilling, why not expose the nation to Dashole et al?

[banyanroot]

FLY ALL TREE-HUGGERS TO ANWR

[RayChuang88]

I would not be surprised if Bush does say he will allow ANWR drilling under the guise of national security--imagine saying part of the oil output from ANWR will become part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

[linn37]

You should hear the ignorant commercials the environuts are playing around here on the Radio.They (Sierra and the Audobon Society(sp)) make claims there is only 6 months worth of oil there. Lets all be reasonable here if there is only 6 mos worth do you really think a Oil company is going to go to the trouble? The Sierra club has a fireman from NYC telling the story on how he lectured Mr.President about leaving ANWR alone.They both conclude with calling Senator Specter and letting him know that drilling in ANWR is bad.For some reason they fail to mention Santorum.

[StriperSniper]

If we start exploring and drilling today, by the time one of these environazis who wants to 'preserve' this 'pristine' land goes there for vacation, we will have extrcted all the oil and left behind so many caribou that they will start complaining that the lichen and moss are getting trampled.

[NittanyLion]

We are wasting valuable time debating this issue,something has to be done.President BUSH should,under the guise if national security issue an executive order,DRILL!

How was it that ANWR was made unavailable to drilling? If by EO, Bush could rescind/countermand it. If not, issuing a new one would be a huge blunder on his part. I didn't like it when Clinton issued them, and I feel the same way here.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

You've tapped my memory for now, but I find them constantly.

[StriperSniper]

extrcted = extracted

Oops.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

If anyone is listening, I don't care about one mosquito more or less in the Arctic. Certainly not in comparison with being able to power the electric grid, or to get where I need to in an auto, or have an independent foreign policy.

The idea that environmental extremism entitles tyrants rather than we-the-people to control valuable subterrainian minerals should cut no ice whatsoever.

[Right_in_Virginia]

A total of 49 democrat senators is enough to give Mr. Dashle the majority leadership role.

A total of 60 votes is needed to bring a vote to the floor and pass a bill.

How is this possible?

[SW6906]

Here's a great site loaded with information for the ANWR battle.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

We know it's there, that work was done 2 decades ago. We know the Caribou are thriving at present, multiplying after the pipline. We realize the insignificance of the size and environmental value area being proposed. We are aware of the need for independence from foreign sources. And we recognize the massive employment and economic benefits available as a result of the project.

So what's the beef?

[NittanyLion]

The Legislative Process
Filibusters and Cloture

The dearth of debate limitations in Senate rules creates the possibility of filibusters. Individual Senators or minority groups of Senators who adamantly oppose a bill or amendment may speak against it at great length, in the hope of changing their colleagues' minds, winning support for amendments that meet their objectives, or convincing the Senate to withdraw the bill or amendment from further consideration on the floor. Opposing Senators also can delay final floor action by offering numerous amendments and motions, insisting that amendments be read in full, demanding roll call votes on amendments and motions, and a using a variety of other devices.

The only formal procedure that Senate rules provide for breaking filibusters is to invoke cloture under the provisions of paragraph 2 of Rule XXII. However, cloture cannot be voted until two days after it is proposed, and a simple majority of the Senate is insufficient to invoke cloture. Cloture requires the support of three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn, or a minimum of 60 votes (unless the matter being considered changes the standing rules, in which case cloture requires a vote of two-thirds of the Senators present and voting). For this reason alone, cloture can be difficult to invoke and almost always requires some bipartisan support. In addition, some Senators are reluctant to vote for cloture, even if they support the legislation being jeopardized by the filibuster, precisely because the right of extended debate is such an integral element of Senate history and procedure.

Even if the Senate does invoke cloture on a bill (or anything else), the result is not an immediate vote on passing the bill. The cloture rule permits a maximum of thirty additional hours for considering the bill, during which each Senator may speak for one hour. The time consumed by rollcall votes and quorum calls is deducted from the thirty hour total; as a result, each Senator does not have an opportunity to speak for a full hour, although he or she is guaranteed at least ten minutes for debate. Thus, cloture does not stop debate immediately; it only ensures that debate cannot continue indefinitely. And even the thirty hours allowed under cloture is quite a long time for the Senate to devote to any one bill, especially since Senators may not be willing to invoke cloture until the bill already has been debated at considerable length.

[StriperSniper]

So what's the beef?

Better question: What do you call caribou meat?

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The area proposed is frozen tundra (if there is another type) all winter. Point being there ain't no caribou there, they migrate.