[greenyes] US Senate Rejects Amendment to Strip ANWR from Budget

[lkingeco2@no.address]

Senator Cantwell's amendment to strip language from the Budget Resolution 
allowing oil drilling in ANWR failed a few minutes ago, with 49 yes votes and 51 
no votes.

Supporters of opening up ANWR used the Budget Resolution as a means to avoid 
a filibuster, since the resolution only requires a simple majority.

The U.S. House of Representatives didn't include ANWR in their version of the 
Budget Resolution, approved in committee last week.  So ANWR may become part 
of a Senate-House Conference Committee negotiation.

Prospects for passage of a Budget Resolution appear uncertain, since the 
House and Senate appear likely to disagree on major line items such as Medicaid.

We lost several Democrats in the Senate on the Cantwell amendment.  Senators 
Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Daniel Akaka (D-HI) voted "NO".

Lance King
Chairman
Community Solutions