So the HR have opened up drilling in ANWR if the Senate approves. This was predicted as I recall.
Least these guys sit late.
"The ANWR provision was attached to a major defense bill, forcing many opponents of oil and gas exploration in the barren northern Alaska range to vote for it. The bill, passed 308-106, also included money for hurricane relief and bird flu preventive measures."
Here's the first news report I read. Many more links.
Everyone should know for sure whether drilling will be opened up by Wednesday. Since Bush has been handed so many slights recently I suspected he'll get a pass on this from the Senate.
The authority to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil exploration — long sought by President Bush, energy companies and Republican leaders — will be attached to a separate fiscal 2006 defense-spending bill that has widespread support in both parties because of its funding for the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Rushing to get out of town for the holidays, the House moved toward early-morning votes on both bills.
The Senate could act today on the budget bill and as early as Wednesday on defense spending.
Washington Post
Interesting link to the House Resource Committee re: ANWR
Comments