Posted on 02/20/2005 5:38:47 PM PST by Truth29
ANWR omitted from energy bill
By Brian DeBose
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
House energy committee leaders agreed to leave out language that allows drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in hopes of attracting more Democratic support for a comprehensive energy bill.
(snip)
Efforts to pass an energy package have been stymied in the past two years by Senate Democrats and a few Republicans, who say opening the refuge is too risky and would be detrimental to Alaska's ecosystem. Opponents also say that shielding MTBE manufacturers would be unfair.
(snip)
Mr. Barton said that separating ANWR drilling would make it easier for the Senate to pass the energy bill and give both sides more time to come to an agreement. He did not discount White House backing of the plan. "I think ANWR will be something the president signs into law this year," he said.
(snip)
Mr. Barton said he hopes the committee will have a comprehensive energy plan sometime after Easter.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
This article contains more detail about the elimination of ANWR from the Energy bill. I don't buy the rationale given, but here it is.
Yeah. I wonder what is really going on.
More bold moves by the republicans to make the most of their majority status.
The libs are lucky they have republicans as political adversaries. What other party gives up before even trying?
Ahhh, but you forget..."Stroke of the pen, law of the land. Kinda cool."
The article doesn't come up, but it may not be as bad as you think. I heard the strategy was to put ANWR in the omnibus budget bill, which cannot be filibustered.
The Republicans have been trying to get the bill passed for over four years. How is that not "trying"?
Can't "W" just sign an executive order for ANWR like WJC did with the "nature preserves"?
I really want to know what the bill contains, not what is omitted in it. Got a list?
because to make it happen, you have to mount an effective, relentless communications campaign. and the white house doesn't do that very well. look at the SS reform plan, there was a week of speeches and activity after the SOTU to pump it up - and it seems to be over already.
unless the Dems feel that this issue (or any issue) is going to cost them politically, their votes obstructing all of this stuff will hold.
The Republicans still didn't figure out, that they are the majority.
They still keep giving in to the Democrats.
I hoped they would have grown some backbone by now.
Drilling in ANWR should have been the crown jewel of this bill.
Bush had an appointment in Europe which pretty much stopped the SS campaign domestically for the time being. The energy bill needs to be passed. If that means stripping ANWR from it temporarily, so be it. ANWR isn't the holy grail, and we'll win in that matter eventually anyway.
People in Alaska very much DO want to have drilling in ANWR.
HTTP://washingtontimes.com/national/20050216-123420-8957r.htm
Gas is up to $2.15 a gallon again in CA and the oil prices have been dropping. Im getting Real tired of getting the shaft here.
see post 12
Maybe it is crafty to take ANWR out of the comprehensive energy bill. Then, at a later time, force the Dems to go on record in a high-profile way to specifically oppose ANWR. Then paint them as the obstructionists that they are.
Bad politics and bad marketing. The GOP needs to state unequivically that drilling in the ANWR will reduce the price of gas by X dollars per gallon and then let everyone vote their pocket book.
Here is another article, which seems to be an update:
Rep. DeLay: ANWR will be included in energy bill
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/021805/sta_20050218018.shtml
U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay says a national energy bill will contain a provision to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
DeLay's statements came Wednesday, a day after two House Republicans and fellow Texans said a national energy bill would not contain language to open the refuge to development.
Those comments were made by Reps. Joe Barton and Ralph Hall. Barton is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Hall is chairman of the panel's energy subcommittee. The two said they expected ANWR to be considered in the House as separate stand-alone legislation.
That view prompted Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif. and chairman of the House Resources Committee to speak up, expressing surprise at Barton and Hall's remarks.
DeLay said he supports Pombo's position on ANWR.
"I know that Chairman Pombo is committed to ensuring any final bill that reaches the floor has an ANWR provision," DeLay said. "I wholeheartedly supported his efforts in the past and will do so again this year."
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