By OGJ editors
WASHINGTON, DC, Mar. 17 -- The Senate this week is slated to vote on a budget resolution that would essentially allow the Bush administration to lease a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
A Senate vote on the ANWR issue is expected Wednesday or Thursday, congressional sources said.
The Senate Budget Committee last Thursday approved a budget resolution that assumes the Department of Interior would receive $2.15 billion in revenues from ANWR leases over fiscal years 2004-13. The budget plan calls on the Senate Energy Committee to approve legislation "consistent with opening up (ANWR) for oil exploration and production." An amendment sponsored by Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) to remove the ANWR language failed on a party-line vote 10-11 in committee.
Opponents optimistic
ANWR drilling opponents said they are confident they have enough votes to strip the provision; Unlike most other legislation before the chamber, the resolution must pass by a simple majority, allowing for 51 votes. Under Senate rules, the resolution cannot be subjected to the endless debate of a filibuster that requires 60 votes to shut down.
Environmental groups are predicting they have 51 or 52 votes; ANWR supporters, however, say there is still a chance they can narrowly win. Republican leaders are confident that if the Senate is deadlocked on a 50:50 vote Vice-Pres. Dick Cheney would vote to break the tie in their favor.
Senate debate on the budget resolution is expected to start this week. The current blueprint sets a ceiling of $784.5 billion for total discretionary budget authority in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. Neither the Senate nor House plan estimates the cost of a possible war with Iraq. The House budget plan calls for discretionary spending at $775.4 billion, below the White House's $782 billion request. On ANWR, the House Resources Committee is instructed to generate revenues of $49 million in 2004, $354 million in 2004-08, and $1.137 billion over fiscal years 2004-13.
ANWR supporters are not worried about their measure passing the House. But they concede the Senate vote could be problematic. They now have 48 votes, "possibly" 49, according to congressional sources. Last year the Democratic Senate rejected an ANWR provision; Supporters fell 14 votes short of the 60 needed to end a threatened filibuster. This year the Senate is under Republican control, but only by a one-vote margin and there are several moderate Republicans who oppose drilling. ANWR supporters are focusing most of their efforts on freshmen senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.). Both are still considered to be "swing" voters, although each has opposed drilling in the past.
