Daschle: Democrats Can Block Alaska Oil Drilling

reuters ^ | November 10, 2002 07:25 PM ET | Tom Doggett

[KQQL]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic lawmakers would block in the new Republican-controlled Senate the White House's plan to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle said on Sunday.

While Republicans will control Congress following big wins in last week's elections, they are still short of the 60 votes needed in the 100-member Senate to cut off debate and vote on controversial bills like giving energy firms access to the refuge.

Democrats John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut -- both possible presidential candidates in the 2004 election -- have promised to filibuster legislation that would open the Arctic refuge to oil exploration.

"I don't think that the American people support drilling in ANWR. ... I think they would support a Democratic filibuster," Daschle said on NBC's "Meet the Press" news program.

The White House has pushed for drilling in the refuge to be part of a broad energy bill that lawmakers have been trying to finalize for months.

Lawmakers will have little time left to complete the pending energy bill when Congress returns for its lame duck session this week.

Republicans have a better shot of passing energy legislation next year in the new Congress, though they still face a tough fight on opening ANWR.

The refuge, which is home to polar bears, caribou and other wildlife, sprawls across 19 million acres of Alaska's northeast corner.

Democrats and environmentalists argue there is not enough oil in the refuge to justify harming the wildlife that lives there and it could take eight years for the refuge's oil to reach the market.

President Bush wants to tap the refuge's potential 16 billion barrels of oil to help reduce U.S. crude imports from overseas.

The United States consumes about 20 million barrels of crude a day, with imports accounting for about 55 percent of oil supplies.

The Bush administration also says improved drilling technology would allow energy firms to search for oil and leave a small footprint in the refuge.

[KQQL]

Puff is right 25,000 republican voters in SD voted for Puff and his buddy Timmy.

South Dakota wants Puff's policy over W...

[marajade]

I guess Daschle wants more senate seat losses in 2004...

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Block this, Rat Boy!

[INSERT YOUR FAVORITE OBSCENE GESTURE HERE.]

[spyone]

OK, let's test this, Tom! Bet you don't last a week. Hope Bush puts the threat of philibusters to the test!

[Moosehead]

ANWAR won't be profitable anyway when Saddam is gone and Iraqi oil is flowing freely.

[copycat]

Democrats and environmentalists argue there is not enough oil in the refuge to justify harming the wildlife that lives there and it could take eight years for the refuge's oil to reach the market.

Perhaps the Dems would be kind enough to point to another area in our country where wildlife was harmed by a nearby oil facility?

Let them filibuster, in fact, MAKE them filibuster. During the time that the filibuster is in effect, the President can use the bully pulpit to educate the American people about the issue, and why wildlife is NOT harmed by a modern oil platform. He can also educate them about how new technologies allow a facility to exist on just a few acres out of MILLIONS, and why the Dems position on this is EXTREME.

[Kadric]

I agree if they are going to filibuster make them stand up there and talk the whole time.

[KQQL]

The political science professor calculates that 23,000 Republicans voted for Johnson.

http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/4489032.htm

[nicmarlo]

Looks to me like it's e-mail time, to all my friends with this little article.....from Daschole the obstructionist to Daschole the filibuster obstructionist.

[Mr. K]

I just dont understand why we are BUYING oil from arabs who hate us, when we have more than we need ON OUR OWN SOIL!?!?!?

[2rightsleftcoast]

Daschle thinks the PEOPLE don't support drilling in Alaska?
Let's put that out on a national vote. We will win that too!

[Eva]

Yeah, but the Venezuelan oil is in doubt with the political situation getting worse every day.

[KQQL]

The political science professor calculates that 23,000 Republicans voted for Johnson.
South Dakota is in for a period of time in the wilderness in the next two years as a consequence," he said. "We have lost significant power, in my estimation, in regards to our clout."


http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/4489032.htm

[Jalapeno]

Neither does most of the American Public. This is why Daschle is dead wrong on this issue. If the Dems filibuster this issue, they will pay dearly.

[Rays_Dad]

"I don't think that the American people support drilling in ANWR

______________________

Well you thought wrong for me and my family why don't you have your secretary scratch my familys name off the oppisition list. And another thing I didn't appoint you to think for me.

[RS]

"OK, let's test this, Tom! Bet you don't last a week. Hope Bush puts the threat of philibusters to the test!"

EXACTLY ! lets see the spectacle of Dems babbling away for weeks on end ! And make sure we get it all on tape, so when they make the inevitable screw-ups we can repeat them over and over !

Bring it on ! Send in the Clowns !

[AlaskaErik]

"I don't think that the American people support drilling in ANWR. ... I think they would support a Democratic filibuster," Daschle said on NBC's "Meet the Press" news program.

What we need right now is a good old fashioned oil embargo ala 1973. That would wipe the smirks off the faces of those Rats.

[Lokibob]

Why, when the Dems held a 50 to 49 advantage in the Senate, they controlled it, but when we have a 53-46 advantage, the Dems can still control the senate? I'm confused.

[VRWC_minion]

Excellent news. Now that the rats have nothing to offer the unions because they are out of power they are going to allow ANWR to further drive a wedge between their party.

Great strategy. I cannot believe the luck we are having.