wait..is the sky falling??! 25 republicans jump ship on ANWR

[Guest guest]

GOP moderates derail drilling plans for Arctic Refuge and offshore areas

 

Opponents of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge got some shocking

good news last night: 25 moderate House Republicans, led by Rep. Charles Bass

(R-N.H.), defied pressure from the GOP leadership and vowed to oppose a $54

billion, filibuster-proof budget bill unless provisions allowing drilling in the

refuge and in offshore areas around the country were eliminated -- and promises

made they would not return. And lo, in late-night negotiations, House GOP

leaders blinked; the provisions are gone. This unexpected development of

moderate GOP spine is a blow to the Bush administration's plans for expanded

dirty-energy production, but the struggle ain't over. Senate drilling

monomaniacs Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) say they'll bottle

the legislation up well into 2006 if the final version doesn't include Arctic

Refuge drilling. But the House coalition avers it'll stand firm. Elephant fight!

Elephant fight!

 

 

straight to the source: The Washington Post, Jonathan Weisman, 10 Nov 2005

 

 

straight to the source: Anchorage Daily News, Liz Ruskin, 10 Nov 2005

 

 

straight to the source: The Boston Globe, Associated Press, 10 Nov 2005

 

 

" Just as nightfall does not come at once, neither

does oppression. In both instances there is a twilight. And it is in such

twilight

that we all must be aware of change in the air - however slight - lest we become

unwilling victims of the darkness. "

William O. Douglas