Posted on 04/10/2002 2:30:15 PM PDT by Lucky2
Democrats Vow to Filibuster Alaska Oil Drilling Wed Apr 10, 5:03 PM ET By Tom Doggett
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman (news - web sites) of Connecticut promised on Wednesday to filibuster any move to amend a pending energy bill to allow drilling in pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Republican lawmakers are citing Iraq's decision on Monday to cut off oil exports for 30 days to protest the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as another reason why the United States must be able to tap ANWR's reserves and become less dependent on foreign crude.
Lieberman criticized Republicans for using the Middle East crisis to push their drilling agenda.
"The fact remains that drilling in the refuge would not produce a drop of oil for a decade, far beyond the time of the current crisis, and even then far too little to change the skewed foreign oil dependence equation," Lieberman told reporters.
Lieberman was joined by other lawmakers and environmental groups at a Capitol Hill news conference to protest drilling in the refuge.
"The Middle East crisis is far too complicated to be calmed by drilling in the Arctic, and the fact that we're hearing such a far-flung argument tells me that our opponents don't have the votes," Lieberman said.
Under the Senate's complicated rules, controversial measures like drilling in the ANWR need the support of 60 of the chamber's 100 lawmakers to end debate and permit a vote.
A Reuters survey last month found only 40 senators would go on the record in favor of drilling in the refuge. Fifty lawmakers wanted to keep oil companies out of the area and 10 senators said they were undecided on the issue.
Republican Sen. Frank Murkowski of Alaska has said he will offer an amendment this week to the energy bill to open the refuge to exploration.
Lieberman and most other Democrats say there is not enough oil in the refuge to significantly cut back on foreign crude imports, and therefore the area should be kept off-limits to drilling to protect ANWR's wildlife.
The Bush administration and most Republican lawmakers argue that the refuge's potential 10 billion barrels could replace the amount of oil the United States imports from Iraq for 35 years. Iraq is the No. 6 oil supplier to the U.S. market.
Murkowski claims when U.S. drivers pull up to the gasoline pump they are indirectly funding the suicide bombers in Israel. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) pays the family of each suicide bomber $25,000.
A coalition of Jewish groups, including the American Jewish Congress, on Tuesday urged the Senate to pass an energy bill that allows drilling in ANWR.
Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine said the fastest and cheapest way to reduce oil imports would be to raise the mileage requirements for cars and gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles.
However, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers already voted against modifying the energy bill to significantly boost vehicle fuel standards.
So what, Joe? We should never start to be less dependent if it can't happen right now?
Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine said the fastest and cheapest way to reduce oil imports would be to raise the mileage requirements for cars and gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles.
And why is it that these socialist Dems and their "moderate" Rino buddies can ONLY think of solving our problems by reducing our freedoms?
I guess Joe's not running for President in 2004.
How in the hell does this weasely wimp know HOW long this current crisis will run. It could last for years and get worse!!
I'd put this guy in the camp of the enemy! What has he ever done for America anyhow?
It is more important today than ever that we develop our own sources of oil and natural gas and not depend on the Mideast Turm-oil.
Simple. They cannot support it so they make sure that such information as you've posted never sees the light of day. This they do by pandering all the more shamelessly to The Media, which hates the idea of drilling. Drilling, of course, would be a FABULOUS idea if a DemoCRATE proposed it, but since it's Dubya, it's bad. Velly velly bad.
Michael
I can tell you the rank and file Auto workers are for it.
This is an issue like gun control. Gor every democrat is pleases it makes two democrats madder than hell. It is a loser. Bush needs to keep bringing it up over and over and over. The more the Demorats fillibuster the more they ensure their defeat in November.
ANWAR opposition with oil prices sky high takes Michigan and Pa out of the Democrat column.
We need to tell those Dakota farmers that Daschle wants them to pay a bundle for oil to tend the wheat, so the caribow can fornicate in peace.
The democrats are doing what ever it takes to lose the senate.
The parties are almost reversed on strategy. The Democrats used to fold on wedge issues and the Republican stood their ground and lost. Now it its the direct opposite.
It seems like the Democrats have forgotten how they got to implement their agenda for 60 years. And it appears that Dubya can't forget how they did it.
That makes a lot of sense. Correct me if I am wrong, but hasn't every Jewish member of the Senate come out against drilling in ANWR? And most in the House?
What is this, a shell game being played?
It's the Big Lie and this article is a good example. There is no "complicated" Senate rule requiring 60 votes for "controversial" legislation. That's a lie. This bill can be passed with 51 Senators voting in favor. 60 votes would be needed to halt a filibuster, but the presstitutes don't want to tell the public Lieberman and Daschle are threatening filibuster or that a majority of Senators favor the bill. So, they mangle the truth.
Precisely.
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