Senate votes to open up Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling

[Rhiannon12866]

The measure was attached to the bill to overhaul the nation’s tax code, which passed through the Senate early Saturday.

The Senate has given a green light to opening Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.

In a vote early Saturday morning, Republicans rejected an effort led by Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington to block drilling.

The vote was 52-48. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska had pushed for oil and gas drilling in a 1.5-million-acre coastal plain within the refuge.

The measure was attached to the bill to overhaul the nation’s tax code, which passed through the Senate early Saturday. By attaching the provision to drill to the tax legislation — which is tied to the budget process — backers didn’t have to muster the 60 votes that would have been needed to pass and overcome a filibuster that a stand-alone bill likely would have faced. The Senate still needs to reconcile the bill with the House.

More: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/senate-opens-up-alaskas-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-to-oil-drilling/

[democratisphere]

1. Murkowski is a sellout. Hopefully she will be voted out of office.

redumbliCONs are evil to their rotten core.

[Cicada]

2. One of the last unspoiled natural places gets fucked up, great

Personally, I find natural earth sublime, something worth protecting. But hey, a few bucks profit for oil companies, more pollution in our atmosphere? Heil Koch!

[Duppers]

3. 😤😡😡

I hate them.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. It's truly horrible

Jimmy Carter fought them in 1980 - to protect thousands of acres of unspoiled wilderness - and won. He was very unpopular there at the time - his only support then was from Alaska's indigenous population.

[Duppers]

5. That's so sad.

Thx for this info and your OP, dear Rhiannon.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Thanks to you for the K&R!

There is so much important - and depressing - news out there these days that it's hard to keep up. We need to keep track of what's happening behind the scenes as well as the latest outrageous news that's making headlines.