Posted on 03/15/2005 8:56:56 PM PST by bitt
After nearly two decades of efforts to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, advocates appear closer to getting their way than ever before.
On the eve of a key Senate vote, both sides were scrambling to gain a last-minute advantage. Republican leaders are seeking authority to open the area to oil companies as part of the budget resolution for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. But they are being opposed by Democrats and some moderate Republicans, who fear that the drilling will damage an environmentally sensitive area.
Although the Republicans picked up strength in the last election and now hold a 55 to 44 majority, lawmakers and special interest groups say the vote will be very close.
"It's as hard a fight as we've ever engaged in terms of drilling in the refuge," said Melinda Pierce, a lobbyist for the Sierra Club, which opposes drilling. "It's going to come down to one vote."
snip
Supporters say opening 1.5 million acres in the coastal plain of the 19 million-acre refuge is needed to produce billions of barrels of oil and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, while opponents argue that not enough would be pumped to make an appreciable difference. Supporters take issue with opponents' environmental objections, saying drilling could be done in a small area and in a way that will not cause damage.
Because the refuge drilling provision is attached to the budget, supporters need only a 51-vote majority for approval. If opening the refuge were considered as separate legislation, a 60-vote majority would be needed to block a filibuster, a delaying tactic that has previously been used to defeat drilling.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"This administration doesn't want to play by the rules," said Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.). "They don't have the votes to be able to do it one way, so they're going to break up the system, write their own rules and try to do it another way."' ....
It sounds as if the ComPost expects the measure to pass, too.
I love the sound of fried liberals.
Kerry continued, "They haven't tricked the paperwork for their third Purple Heart to avoid their duty! They haven't beaten the rap for treasonous Parisian activity in the Vietnam (I was in Vietnam, you know) War! They aren't allowed to write their own rules, yet!"
I'm crushed that Norm Coleman voted with the Donks on this. He done in my book.
Pray for W and Our Troops
Hey, why should a superpower at war in a dangerous world develop any energy resources of its own? (sarcasm off)
ditto on the Norm Coleman thing...I was liking him there for a while...
Me, too. One might expect it from Snowe or Collins, but What's up w Norm?
Well, Norm did campaign back in '02 saying that he was not in favor of drilling in ANWR. So, in a way, he's keeping a campaign promise.
I'd say he wimped when the going got tough. Certainly surprised me.
I will be watching the vote tomorrow and I am sure that either OXEN IN FLA of Howlin will post the vote of who voted which way, they usually are very good about keeping everyone informed about these important votes---
I know Norm Coleman came out today and said he would vote against it, another poster mention Gordon Smith, Chafee, Snowe, Collins, ????
Never liked him and glad he is toast.
Voting against drilling there is 2005's version of supporting gay marriage in 2004 as it marks political death.
Oh, we'll be watching, for sure!
WOW do I miss Zell Miller in the Senate--at least the Republicans could count on one dem crossover vote once in awhile---
It is amazing how the dems just hardly ever cross party lines, but the Republicans seem to always have to "sweat" the big votes, no matter how many REP. Senators we vote in each election. I'm beginning to think that we could vote in 61 Republican senators and we would STILL not be able to stop a filibuster!
I got a kick out of watching Sen. Stevens tonight-- he always gets so worked up and almost can't talk--
Anyway, he was reading the e-mail that Sen. Kerry sent out against the drilling in ANWR part of budget resolution, with the lies and distortions that only Kerry and his cronies can do so well, and Stevens was going ballistic.
The funniest part was when he read on the e-mail the line about sending donations to fight the bill---Stevens goes, "donations, donations, we're gonna vote tomorrow, what does Kerry need donations for!"
I was laughing so much I was crying--he even went back to it after he was done speaking and wanted to enter the e-mail into the record and he was shaking he was sooo mad!
At least Coleman is being consistent. When he ran he said he was against it so at least he was being honest and didn't change his position after being elected.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.