Senate Republicans to press for ANWR, amid uncertainty in House

Washington (Platts)--8Nov2005

Senate Republican leaders said Tuesday they will fight to retain a
provision in a budget reconciliation bill opening the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge to oil and natural gas development if the House decides to drop its
reference to ANWR from its version of the bill. 

     Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici
(New Mexico) and two other chairmen, Sens Judd Gregg (New Hampshire) and Ted
Stevens (Alaska), spoke to reporters amid speculation that the House may
scuttle its ANWR provision, along with others in the bill, to win approval of
the budget measure.

     Domenici said ANWR "is far more important than any other provision" in
the bill. "We're taking ANWR to conference (with the House)," he added. "That
means ANWR is on the table." Budget Committee Chairman Gregg agreed that
Senate conferees would try to keep ANWR in the bill. Gregg said he did not
think Congress can pass the budget bill by its Nov 18 target for adjourning,
and he predicted the Senate and House would have to return to work after
Thanksgiving Day for a special vote on the measure. 

     Moderate House Republicans Tuesday sent a letter to House Rules Committee
Chairman David Drier (Republican-California), saying they oppose ANWR and may
vote against the budget over the issue. That came as Western representatives
wrote to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (Republican-Illinois), threatening to
vote against the bill if ANWR is not part of it. 

     The House tentatively plans to vote on the bill Thursday.

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