Oil drilling ploy meets opposition

Thu., Aug. 11, 2005

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Two dozen House Republicans, including three committee chairmen, have asked Speaker Dennis Hastert not to use a budget procedure to clear the way for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

They said in a letter to Hastert, R-Ill., that the budget process “is an inappropriate venue to be debating this important environmental issue” and warned that it would further complicate already difficult budget issues.

“We believe the debate on opening this unique land to oil and gas exploration should be done outside the bu6dget process,” said the group led by Rep. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H., in an Aug. 4 letter made public Wednesday.

Among signers were three committee chairmen: Science Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y.; Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., and Government Reform Chairman Thomas Davis, R-Va.

The letter also was sent to Budget Committee Chairman James Nussle, R-Iowa, and Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Calif. Pombo strongly supports opening the 1.5 million acre coastal plain of the Alaska refuge to oil development.

The House has repeatedly approved ANWR drilling in recent years only to have the matter die by filibuster in the Senate. The budget reconciliation document, which has the force of law if signed by President Bush, is not subject to filibuster. Supporters failed to get a drilling provision into the recently enacted energy bill.

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Oil drilling ploy meets opposition

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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