Updated May, 2006-

HOUSE AGAIN VOTES TO DRILL

On May 25th, the House of Representatives passed HR 5429, The American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act" by a 225-201 vote. This bill mandates oil development in the Arctic Refuge. However at this time the Senate probably does not have the votes to override a filibuster.

Results Earlier This Year

SENATE VOTED FOR BUDGET WITH OIL DRILLING IN ARCTIC REFUGE.

The Senate voted 51-49 in favor of the 2007 fiscal year budget resolution. This resolution includes instructions to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to save $3 billion-almost exactly the federal share of the administration's unrealistic leasing projections for the Arctic Refuge.

Fortunately, the version passed by the House of Representatives did not have an Arctic Drilling provision. Since the two versions of the resolution were never reconciled, the Congress is essentially proceeding with the House version, since all spending bills originate in the House. So the Budget process apparently cannot be used to pass an Arctic Drilling provision this year.

This budget resolution also differed from last year's budget bill in that it contained"Arctic only" reconciliation instructions, as compared to last year's budget that also sought cuts to health entitlement and other mandatory spending programs. However this budget will continue the cuts approved last year, which will result in $125 billion reductions in services including education, nutrition, housing, children's services, and services to the elderly.

By burying Arctic Refuge drilling language in the federal budget, drilling proponents have shown a blatant disregard for the American public's desire to keep the Arctic Refuge safe from the destructive impacts of oil development. Even worse, this outlandish idea was approved just days after Alaska's North Slope was impacted by THE LARGEST oil spill in its long history of drilling-267,000 gallons thus far. The oil spill occurred in on the delicate tundra of a caribou crossing area, demonstrating once again that oil drilling is a dirty business and does not belong in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

What Happens Now and What you Can Do

This resolution was just one of many vehicles that the oil development lobby has used to open the Arctic Refuge to oil extraction. They never give up and can be expected to continue to attach this to new bills over the course of the legislative session.

Call Your Senators - Now and Multiple Times

Calls are essential and easy to make. Their staff people tally the number of people who express opinions. Ask how the Senator voted on the Budget Resolution this past Spring. If they voted against the resolution, express your support. If they voted for it, express your disappointment and indicate you will be watching them carefully when other measures come up for a vote this year.

You can get the numbers for your Senators at the Senate Site. Or you can call the Capitol Switchboard and ask to be connected. That number is 202-224-3121 but is often busy.

Call Your Congressional Representative

Please call your Representative today and ask that they vote against any new legislation that contains Arctic oil development. You can get your Represetative's phone number at the House of Representatives Site.

Last Year's Results

On December 21st, the Senate fell 4 votes short of ending a filibuster against a provision in the Defence Department authorization bill that contained a rider authorizing oil development in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. The rider was then stripped from the bill in order to insure its passage.

On Monday, Dec 19th, The House of Representatives passed their version of the bill that authorized drilling. After being unable to pass Arctic Drilling any other way, Sen. Ted Stevens orchestrated this outrageous ploy which was quickly adopted by the House of Representatives. In a particularly bizarre twist, the bill also earmarks oil money for Katrina relief.

In the Senate, 60 votes were required to cut off debate and accept the rider. Only 56 votes were obtained to do that.

This cynical end-run of the political process was designed to force lawmakers to pit voting for funding troops on the ground in Iraq, banning torture, and providing relief for hurricane ravaged states against the interests of our most pristine wilderness as a special holiday gift to the oil and gas industry. It violated Senate rules for including items unrelated to Defense issues in the Defense budget. Even so, it would have passed except for the success of the filibuster.

BACKGROUND: SENATE APPROVED BUDGET BILL THAT PERMITTED DRILLING FOR OIL IN ARCTIC REFUGE LAST YEAR.

By a 52-47 vote margin last year, the US Senate originally passed their version of that year's Budget Bill that includes a provision to offer oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The House of Representatives did not include Arctic Drilling in their version of the Budget Bill, so as far as that bill is concerned, it died there.

2 Democrats, Mary Landrieu (D-La) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) voted for the budget. 5 Republicans, Norm Coleman (R-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), and Mike DeWine (R-OH) opposed it because of the drilling provision.

A big disappointment was Gordon Smith (R-OR), who previously had voted against drilling in the Refuge and who voted for an amendment to strip it from the bill, but when that failed, broke a campaign promise and voted for the bill. Gordon Smith also voted for the Defense Bill with it's Arctic Drilling rider.

The Arctic Rider in the Defense Bill was only stopped by threat of filibuster.

Tell Oil Companies You Will Boycott !

True Majority has organized a pledge to boycott any oil company that drills in the Arctic Refuge. Take the Pledge and Tell the Oil Companies. If drilling is passed by the full Congress, the success of this boycott will be critical.

We must persevere. Once there is oil development on the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge, turning a pristine wilderness into an industrial park, there will be no turning back. Please make a promise to yourself now to stay involved over the next several weeks and to get at least three other people to take action with you.

If you would like to be on our email list please send an email to latest@arcticwildlife.org and we will keep you updated on the latest news and what else you can do to help. You can be assured that we never will disclose, sell, nor distribute your email address to any third party for any purpose!

The American people are overwhelmingly opposed to drilling in the Arctic Refuge. We must be confident that that the US Congress will ultimately listen to them and protect this national treasure. A recent Zogby International poll found that a majority of American people favored keeping the drilling out of the Refuge, 55 percent to 38 percent.

There are some places that should be off-limits to oil drilling and industrial development, and the Arctic Refuge is one of them. The harm to wildlife habitat for polar bear, caribou, and millions of migratory birds would be permanent and irreparable. We have a moral responsibility to save wild places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for future generations. That’s why our country has remained committed to its protection for nearly 50 years.