Arctic drilling divide threatens GOP budget plans

A seemingly hopeless divide within the Republican Party over oil drilling in a pristine wildlife refuge in Alaska is threatening to block unrelated budget cuts that are a central pillar of the GOP's plans for this year.

.......

Year after year, Republican leaders and energy industry supporters like Barton could ignore the two to three dozen House Republicans who opposed drilling in the Alaska refugee because their "no" votes were offset by an equal number of "yes" votes from oil-state Democrats.

But virtually every Democrat in Congress opposes the budget bill because of its cuts in popular social programs, so Republican leaders in the House don't have that critical support from across the aisle to carry the vote on Alaska drilling.

The impasse threatens plans to deliver to its GOP political base by Christmas about $45 billion in spending cuts over the next five years. The base is uneasy with its party's performance on spending and budget deficits. Passage of the budget bill is also an important step before Congress can extend expiring tax cuts.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AK_BUDGET_ARCTIC_DRILLING_AKOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-12-09-14-50-43

Save ANWR!

Don't these people get it? If you develop a wild area, it will NEVER, EVER be wild again! It's lost forever!

They're trying to compromise House Democrats, with very little luck so far, knock on wood:

In a longshot bid to keep the drilling provision alive, Republicans are seeking out House Democrats to see if there are ways to persuade them to support the broader budget bill. The top targets are the 30 or so Democrats who support ANWR drilling as a stand-alone measure, as well as Gulf Coast lawmakers desperate for financial help for their constituents.

But there's no indication the Republicans are making headway with House Democrats, none of whom voted for the budget plan the first time around last month. They oppose the bill for cuts to Medicaid, student loan subsidies and food stamps, among other provisions. And they complain that the budget cut bill, when coupled with companion tax bills, actually leads to an increase in the deficit.

"I can't trade Medicaid cuts for being able to open up ANWR," said Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas, an oil industry supporter.

Some Democrats, however, haven't shut to the door to such overtures. Reps. Charles Melancon of Louisiana and Gene Taylor of Mississippi, for example, are demanding immediate relief for their hurricane-ravaged constituents rather than the longer-term aid being offered so far.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the GOP plan to lure Democratic votes isn't working. She said several lawmakers have "come to me and said, 'They've approached me. I want you to know I won't have anything to do with it.'"
(snip/)

Thanks for the info., Thom Little.

I've been disappointed. I want to believe otherwise, but I'm betting Rove and Co. will twist enough arms.