Last week 24 Republican lawmakers, including three committee
chairmen, signed a letter expressing their opposition to
including language in the budget reconciliation bill that would
allow for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
(ANWR).
The letter, addressed to Resources Committee chairman Richard
Pombo (R-CA) and also sent to Speaker of the House, Dennis
Hastert (R-IL) and Budget Committee chairman Jim Nussle (R-IA)
states, "We believe that the reconciliation process is an
inappropriate venue to be debating this important environmental
issue." [1]
"We're happy that 24 members understand and know what a majority
of Americans feel, that the budget is the wrong place to include
provisions opening up ANWR," said Leslie Catherwood of the
Wilderness Society. [2]
The 19.6 million-acre ANWR sanctuary is home to a diverse array
of unique species, including caribou, polar bears, musk oxen,
arctic foxes, wolverines, grizzlies, and snow geese. [3]
Pointing out that the Refuge contains less oil than the United
States consumes in a year and will do nothing to reduce high gas
prices or the country's dependence on foreign oil,
environmentalists charge that drilling in the Refuge is not
worth the ecological devastation the development would incur.
[4]
The House has repeatedly passed measures to drill in the Refuge,
but all efforts have been filibustered and eventually defeated
in the Senate. The budget reconciliation document is not subject
to filibuster, and if signed by President Bush, it will become
law. This means House Democrats, who for the most part are opposed to
development in ANWR, must get a substantial number of
Republicans on board to successfully prevent drilling.
None of the 24 GOP lawmakers who signed the letter revealed
whether or not they would vote against the budget if an ANWR
provision were included. Among the signers were, Nancy Johnson
(CT), Sherwood Boehlert (NY), Chris Smith (NJ), James
Sensenbrenner (WI), Michael Castle (DE), Tim Johnson (IL).
###
SOURCES:
[1] Letter to House Chairman Richard Pombo, Aug. 4, 2005.
[2] "House GOP coalition wants ANWR stripped from budget," E&E
news PM, Aug. 10, 2005.
[3] Defenders of Wildife: Save the Arctic Refuge website.
[4] "GOP House Letter Sends Clear Signal Opposing Arctic Refuge
Drilling in Budget Reconciliation Bill," Aug. 12, 2005.
