Democrats: Alaska Drilling Would Doom Energy Bill

[Judi Lynn]

Democrats: Alaska Drilling Would Doom Energy Bill
Wed September 17, 2003 02:00 PM ET
By Tom Doggett


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats said on Wednesday they have enough support to block passage of a final energy bill if it contains a Republican plan to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The Bush administration has repeatedly said it wants drilling in the refuge, also known as ANWR, to be part of an energy package, which congressional negotiators want to finish writing by early October.

The administration wants negotiators to adopt the House's position to allow drilling in the smaller coastal plain of the 19 million-acre ANWR. It would also limit exploration activities within the coastal plain to just 2,000 acres at any one time.

However, Senate Democrats said at least 45 of their colleagues -- including five Republicans and independent James Jeffords of Vermont -- would filibuster, or talk to death, energy legislation that would give oil companies access to the Alaskan wilderness.

"If the energy bill contains drilling in ANWR, it's in for a tough ride," Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois told reporters on Capitol Hill. (snip/...)

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3461902

[joeybee12]

1. Good!

This is one thing the Dems have stood steadfast on--now if they could only get more vocal on some other things!

[tabasco]

2. PA Residents - Write Arlen Specter

He is one of the key votes on this issue. He voted against ANWR drilling before.

[NewJerseyDem]

9. He supported drilling last time

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00059

He won't be joining in a filibuster because he voted with the republicans back in March to support drilling. I don't know if he switched opinions or has always voted for drilling.

[bif]

3. What? The Democrats have spines after all?

n/t

[Forkboy]

7. They've been very good on this issue

[chiburb]

4. Hmm... Maybe Bush doesn't care about ANWR?

In other words, include ANWR in a bill you want, knowing the Dems will focus on that part of it. Agree to remove ANWR, publicly lick a little wound (while blasting the Dems), and smirk all the way to the bank because your truly onerous pieces of the bill weren't even discussed, let alone debated.
Just a thought...

[Bandit]

5. Hey Republicans , What does the word Refuge mean?

A Wildlife Refuge. Doesn't that have some meaning? I guess it is just words that get in the way of Red Ink Republicans making money.

[jiacinto]

6. Will this hurt Tony Knowles in his race for US Senate?

nt

[NewJerseyDem]

8. I wouldn't think so

There won't actually be a filbuster because Pete Domenici would never accept the bill in conference if he thought a filibuster was likely. So, there probably won't be anymore attention given to the topic than there already is. Tony Knowles is certainly for ANWR drilling so he could argue that he could help persuade Democrats to back drilling and he could point out that the drilling hasn't been permitted under a republican congress anyway. Lisa Murkowski hasn't been successful in getting the drilling approved so it isn't like Knowles could do a worse job.