Senate Puts Oil Companies First in Fight Over Arctic Refuge

[Catchawave]

http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0316-18.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 16, 2005
3:17 PM

Senate Puts Oil Companies First in Fight Over Arctic Refuge
Statement by NRDC Legislative Director Karen Wayland

WASHINGTON -- March 16 -- Today the U.S. Senate, by a vote of 49-51, defeated an amendment by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) that would have removed a provision of the Senate budget bill that authorizes energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The following is a statement by Karen Wayland, legislative director at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council).

"Drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge won't make a dent in gas prices at the pump or break our dependence on Middle East oil.

"This was really a vote for Big Oil, not for the solid majority of Americans who oppose turning America's last great wilderness into a vast, polluted oil field.

"President Bush and his Senate allies resorted to a sneaky budget maneuver to get their way. Now, Congress is one step closer to trading away an irreplaceable national treasure for a few drops of oil that we wouldn't see for a decade or more.

"If the oil industry can drill in the Arctic Refuge, then no place, no matter how pristine, will be safe

more....

[patdem]

1. "lets pick our fights"...as long as no corporate interest is involved

we will fight...as long as the BIG DONARS contribute to me and mine I will fight for THEM against the common man!!! :grr:

Insurance Companies: Tort reform

Banking Industry-Credit Card Companies: Bankruptcy

Oil Interest: ANWAR

Social Security:...NO SPECIAL INTERESTS CHECKING IN...GUESS THE DEMOCRATS CAN SUPPORT THE PEOPLE ON THIS? Maybe not???

[T Roosevelt]

2. It does and it doesn't

I think it's more a political in your face to the environmental movement - the oil companies have as much as said they don't care about ANWR, that it's basically not worth it.

[hiley]

3. Those 51 Senator's are greedy

There is a pretty good idea dealing with budget and the drilling at kos.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1665143

[Catchawave]

4. I just read the Kos post...

Great stuff, thanks for posting it here too :)

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Thanks for that link.

[texastoast]

5. Well, it's time to donate

To keep the bastards tied up in court. We've done it before and we will do it again.

God, I'm so tired of these short-sighted idiots at the helm.