It Ain't Over Yet

Even though last week's brave action by House moderate Republicans stripped the Arctic Refuge drilling provision from the House budget bill, we are by no means in the clear on this. The provision was approved in the Senate budget reconciliation bill, and there it stands. Once the House gets some version of a budget bill passed, the two will have to go to the floor for the House/Senate conference process. A bill both houses of Congress can approve must emerge.

Unfortunately, the Senate negotiators on a House-Senate conference committee will include Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.), who have made it clear to House and Senate leaders they will not agree to any final measure that does not include Arctic drilling. One senior GOP aide in the Senate said Domenici and Stevens are willing to bottle up the budget package well into next year if the House does not relent on Arctic drilling. This might actually not be a bad idea, this budget bill is full of so many detrimental provisions for many Americans.

In the meantime, if your representative was one of the brave group (and I've been looking like mad for this list - anybody have it? Please leave me a link if so.) who insisted that the Arctic Refuge not become an industrial wasteland, please write, call or fax him/her to express your gratitude and implore their continued support in behalf of the Refuge. I am fortunate to currently be living in a state with two Democratic senators and a very conservation-conscious moderate Republican representative. Mike Castle is a stand-up guy when it comes to the environment. I voted for him last time, and I'll vote for him again if he continues in this vein.

Click here to thank your representative and urge him or her to continue to do whatever it takes to keep provisions for oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge and along our coastlines OUT of the budget bill.

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