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Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thursday

By Jeralyn, Section Legislation
Posted on Tue Mar 14, 2006 at 06:00:08 PM EST
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I don't often write about environmental issues. But there's an important vote coming up Thursday. The full Senate is expected to vote on a budget resolution that instructs the Energy Committee to authorize drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The budget resolution the Senate is debating assumes that offering leases for oil and gas drilling in the federal refuge would raise some $3 billion in revenue. If the language remains intact, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee would be directed to produce language for a filibuster-proof budget reconciliation bill that would open ANWR to drilling.

The action alert page from the Wilderness Society will send a message to your Senator. Spreading the word on your blogs also would help.

The federal budget should not be used to force controversial policy measures through Congress that cannot be passed otherwise. Such a blatant abuse of the budget process would set a dangerous precedent and permanently damage the integrity of the Senate.

....Drilling in the Coastal Plain of the Refuge would sacrifice a national treasure of stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife in order to save just one penny at the gas pump, twenty years from now. Energy experts agree that there are cleaner, cheaper, and faster ways to address our energy needs, such as making our cars go further on a gallon of gasoline and investing in clean, renewable energy.

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    Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thursday | 26 comments (26 topical)
    Re: Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thurs (none / 0) (#1)
    by rMatey on Tue Mar 14, 2006 at 06:25:28 PM EST
    Let me guess. "Gentlemen, Start your drills!"

    Re: Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thurs (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Mar 14, 2006 at 07:01:47 PM EST
    Well, I know how my guys will vote.

    Re: Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thurs (none / 0) (#3)
    by Al on Tue Mar 14, 2006 at 07:33:10 PM EST
    It is vital to stop drilling in the Arctic. Here is an example of the very real threat to the environment.

    Re: Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thurs (none / 0) (#4)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Mar 15, 2006 at 06:44:05 AM EST
    In other news, many poor people are trying to decide if they should pay their utility bills or buy food.

    Re: Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thurs (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Wed Mar 15, 2006 at 07:08:21 AM EST
    Where have you gone, Teddy Roosevelt? For that matter, where have you gone, true conservatives? This month's Playboy has a small interview with RFK Jr., and he made a great point. To paraphrase, he said America today is being run like a liquidation sale, selling off all our assets and using up all our resources for short term profits to our collective long term detriment. Does the phrase "penny wise, pound foolish" ring a bell?

    Re: Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thurs (none / 0) (#7)
    by Johnny on Wed Mar 15, 2006 at 08:35:19 AM EST
    Great issue, ain't it kdog. Read the article about how conservatives in Wyoming and Montana are starting to align themselves with gun friendly democrats because the republicans are pretty much destroying the environment for short term economic gain? And in other news, the US decides to not build 4 more jets,and instead gives heating assistance to a hundred thousand poor people.

    Re: Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thurs (none / 0) (#8)
    by Slado on Wed Mar 15, 2006 at 09:27:36 AM EST
    Classic liberalism. When given a real solution to solve the problem make up a reason why it won't work and instead offer government handouts.

    Re: Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thurs (none / 0) (#9)
    by Johnny on Wed Mar 15, 2006 at 09:41:49 AM EST
    Tell us Slado, do you live enar an oilfield? Do you hunt? Do you enjoy the diversity of life which brought us all here? How's this for cutting back government handouts... Stop any and all tax breaks to vehicle manufacturers who can't make their entire fleet of vehicles 25% more fuel efficient in 5 years. Penalize furnace manufacturers and insualtion manufacturers until they can create products to reduce fuel usage 20%. Poof! Bye bye need for drilling ANWR! This is about short term economic gain at the expense of long term environmetal degradation.

    Re: Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thurs (none / 0) (#10)
    by Peaches on Wed Mar 15, 2006 at 09:48:24 AM EST
    When given a real solution to solve the problem
    Enlighten us Slado. What is the Real solution? and what problem is it exactly that this solution is attempting to solve?

    Re: Action Alert: Artic Refuge Drilling Vote Thurs (none / 0) (#11)
    by roy on Wed Mar 15, 2006 at 09:58:24 AM EST
    Slado,
    Classic liberalism. When given a real solution to solve the problem make up a reason why it won't work and instead offer government handouts.
    Not be be confused with modern conservatism. When given a real problem, pretend you have a solution to solve it and instead help your campaign contributors make money. I don't have a problem with allowing drilling, but let's be honest about the impact on the average American.
    1. One less scenic spot to never get around to visiting on vacation
    2. A trivial or unnoticeable improvement in gas prices and national security
    3. A wee bit less government debt or more government services as the oil companies pay taxes on their profits.
    The only way t