Six Republican Senators Turn Against Bush on ANWR

Reuters ^ | 1/31/03

[areafiftyone]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration's plan to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to drilling suffered a major blow on Friday, as six Republican senators said they opposed inserting language to give oil companies access to the refuge into a must-pass budget bill.

ANWR, which is home to polar bears, caribou and other wildlife, sprawls across 19 million acres of Alaska's northeast corner.

The Republican-led House of Representatives passed energy legislation last year that would have opened ANWR to drilling.

The White House contends that the refuge's potential 16 billion barrels of crude must be tapped to help reduce U.S. dependence on oil imports from unfriendly countries like Iraq.

Drilling is opposed by many Democrats and environmental groups, who say the administration should cut oil imports by boosting the mileage standards of gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles.

Six of the Senate's 51 Republicans, including former presidential candidate John McCain of Arizona, on Friday announced they would not go along with a plan to tack ANWR drilling language onto a massive spending bill this spring that would enact the new 2004 budget for the federal government.

The senators said drilling in the Alaskan refuge is an important policy issue that should be openly debated, not slipped into an unrelated bill.

"Because the opening of the Arctic refuge to drilling raises a host of policy concerns, including serious environmental ramifications, we do not believe this issue should be injected in the budget process," the lawmakers said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Don Nickles.

The letter is the latest twist in a two-year legislative battle over drilling in the Alaskan refuge.

The Democratic-led Senate last year soundly defeated efforts to open the refuge, when drilling supporters fell short of the 60 votes needed to end debate on the controversial proposal and allow a final vote on the measure.

To get around a filibuster this time around, supporters of opening the refuge want to attach drilling language to must-pass legislation to fund the 2004 budget for the federal government. They argue that such language is appropriate for budget legislation because of the fees the government would collect from leasing tracts in the refuge to oil companies.

Under Senate rules, budget legislation cannot be filibustered and only 50 votes would be needed to approve the bill and an attached ANWR drilling provision.

In addition to McCain, the letter was signed by Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Peter Fitzgerald of Illinois and Mike DeWine of Ohio.

In his State of the Union speech to Congress earlier this week, President Bush urged lawmakers to pass legislation enacting his national energy plan, which includes drilling in the refuge.

Two Democratic presidential hopefuls, Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, oppose ANWR drilling and have promised to filibuster any energy bill that would open the refuge.

[Timesink]

Well, no surprises here. Bush should simply hammer these senators every time gas prices go up. "Hey, I WANT to do something to bring prices down, but these RINO obstructionists want you to pay more for your gas!"

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Our dependence on the Mideast continues ...

[BibChr]

In addition to McCain, the letter was signed by Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Peter Fitzgerald of Illinois and Mike DeWine of Ohio.

Why not just say "the usual suspects"? Save a tree!

Dan

[stalin]

Good. It's foolish to pump our oil now. I'm not against drilling anwar in the future if the price goes to $40 a berrel but the cost of drilling is much higher than the price of oil will be after we take Iraq.
It's not smart to drill now.

[Dog]

In addition to McCain, the letter was signed by Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Peter Fitzgerald of Illinois and Mike DeWine of Ohio.

Grrrrrrrr!

[rockinonritalin]

At least we have the hydrogen-powered car to fall back on.

[Mo1]

In addition to McCain, the letter was signed by Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Peter Fitzgerald of Illinois and Mike DeWine of Ohio.

Figures ...

[biss5577]

Gee, what a surprise to read those names......

[Redbob]

"Usual suspects" indeed!

I see RINO tracks, I hear the far-away whine of the destructive Eastern RINO - there must be money at stake!

[My2Cents]

I'd be willing to see that Arizona Senate seat go to a Democrat, just to be rid of John McCain, but that's just me.

[stalin]

It's not enough oil to have any effect on prices. The oil companies arn't going to drill it fast enouph to have any effect on prices in the future. If they did it would last about a month.

[Mo1]

Is there any way to replace these idiot republicans at the next election??

[TLBSHOW]

Looks like another story to send my parents by email. Thanks for posting.

[rs79bm]

Hey, I WANT to do something to bring prices down, but these RINO obstructionists want you to pay more for your gas!"

While drilling in ANWR is a logical move in my opinion, it's not going to lower the price of gas anytime soon, as you might think. In fact, it will take years for the oil to be processed, refined and even longer for it to enter the U.S. oil market.

[stalin]

Drilling ANWAr will not change our dependence on foriegn oil. We should have direct control of foriegn oil. I hope that that is what Bush is going for in Iraq.

[Timesink]

It's not enough oil to have any effect on prices. The oil companies arn't going to drill it fast enouph to have any effect on prices in the future. If they did it would last about a month.

I know. I don't care. The RATS and RINOS often leave us with little choice but to play the sheeple against the sheeple.

[areafiftyone]

How much you wanna make a bet that is obstructed too by the Democreeps.

[hapy]

not to worry. When the votes are counted they will be on his side

this will be another loss for the libbys

[stalin]

The money at stake was oil company campaign contributions. These guys apparently didn't get their share.