Leasing proponents say ANWR lacks votes to override Senate filibuster

Supporters of a plan to lease the coastal plain in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge still do not have the 60 votes needed to end a potential filibuster, a key Republican lawmaker conceded Thursday. Efforts to attach ANWR legislation to a pending economic stimulus package also are likely to fail.

Nov. 8, 2001

2 min read

By the OGJ Online Staff

WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 8 -- Supporters of a plan to lease the coastal plain in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge still do not have the 60 votes needed to end a potential filibuster, a key Republican lawmaker conceded Thursday.

"It will be difficult to break a filibuster," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Tex.) Thursday. "But we could pass on a solid [majority] vote. ANWR is an essential part of the [energy policy] mix," she said.

Hutchinson's comments contradicted remarks last week by Teamsters Union spokesman Jerry Hood, who suggested leasing proponents would have the votes "very, very shortly" to push an ANWR leasing provision through the Democratic-controlled Senate (OGJ Online, Nov. 1, 2001). The Republican-led House passed a sweeping energy bill last August that allows ANWR leasing.

Senate Democrats earlier this fall suspended a markup of an energy policy bill in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Democratic leaders say they are working on a comprehensive proposal that will have bipartisan support.

Lawmakers from oil producing states say public pressure is growing to enact energy policy legislation this year that includes ANWR leasing. They maintain ANWR leasing is important for national security because it would reduce US reliance on Middle East oil. Drilling could also boost US jobs and help keep energy prices low.

But ANWR opponents say drilling a portion of the refuge will do little to enhance national security because the US would still need almost the same levels of foreign oil if the coastal plain area were opened. Instead Congress should focus on ways to reduce oil demand and encourage domestic renewable energy sources, they say.

With no clear resolution over ANWR in sight, comprehensive energy legislation may remain elusive this year, lobbyists say.

Efforts to attach ANWR legislation a pending economic stimulus package will likely fail, Senate Republicans conceded. But there is still a chance some bipartisan energy proposals, such as modest tax incentives designed to promote domestic energy may survive in the yet uncompleted budget process, lobbyists say.