[jwpjr]

re: They can easily find the money for this project then.

It's not a matter of money. The drilling provision was attached to the budget bill as an amendment. All sorts of things totally unrelated to budget stuff gets attached to the budget bill because lawmakers know it has to be passed sooner or later and when it passes the amendments do too.

It's one of my major complaints with the system. The rule should be that an amendment cannot be attached to a bill unless it deals directly and specifically with the subject of the bill. It's impossible to overstate the amount of mischief this approach to getting pet bills passed has brought about over the years.

[okie01]

re: They can easily find the money for this project then.

It's not a matter of money.

A budget bill requires only a simple majority -- it can't be filibustered. That is the reason ANWR was attached to the budget bill -- to avoid a Democrat filibuster.

[CharlesWayneCT]

The drilling is in the BUDGET bill because it is being counted on as a REVENUE item, bringing $1.2 BILLION a year in leasing fees.

Revenue items go in the budget.

[rjrad]

This is the only way most of these bastards get re-elected. If it wasn't for Pork most would be gone. Don't for a moment think that they would change the "rules", JOB SECURITY, no change..