Bush plan for Alaska oil drilling blocked
National wildlife refuge
Sheldon Alberts
CanWest News Service
Thursday, December 22, 2005
WASHINGTON - Democrats in the U.S. Senate succeeded yesterday in blocking White House-backed legislation to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, sparing the Canadian government -- at least temporarily -- a showdown with the Bush administration over the controversial plan.
Amid heated rhetoric and threats of political retribution, Republican supporters of Arctic drilling failed to get the 60 votes needed to prevent a Democratic filibuster aimed at killing the oil exploration provisions.
"It is a real victory for the environmental movement all throughout this country," said Senator Dianne Feinstein of California.
The Senate's move was a disappointment for U.S. President George W. Bush, who had lobbied for passage of the Arctic oil plan as part of a US$453-billion military spending bill that primarily funds U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Opponents of drilling accused Republicans of trying to force them into supporting the oil plan by including it in a must-pass defence bill. Instead, they balked at the manoeuvre and turned the tables on the majority party.
"At the 11th hour, the proponents of oil drilling have attached this provision where it does not belong in the hope that we will be intimidated into voting for something we don't believe is right," Senator Joseph Lieberman said. "I have too much a sense of responsibility to the Senate to be intimidated in this way to support something I believe is wrong."
Supporters of drilling have tried for decades to open a 600,000-hectare section of the refuge in northeastern Alaska to oil firms, arguing it would reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.
But environmentalists, Democratic lawmakers and Canadian officials all claim oil activity would harm wildlife in the pristine wilderness, including the migrating Porcupine caribou herd.
In particular, Ottawa is concerned drilling would threaten the livelihood of the Yukon's Vuntut Gwitchin First Nations people, who rely on the caribou for sustenance.
Supporters of drilling had appeared on the verge of success when the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the measure in a vote Monday.
Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, the Republicans' deputy whip and the party's biggest champion of Arctic drilling, had angrily vowed to keep the Senate in session through Christmas until it was approved.
"I want you to know we're going to be here until [New Years Day]. We're going to stay here until this is finished," Mr. Stevens said.
But amid the Democratic stalling, most Republicans appeared resigned to stripping the Arctic refuge provisions out of the military-spending bill and trying again to pass the drilling plan when Congress returns in the New Year.
"Obviously, the government of Canada will be extremely pleased" that the drilling provision has been removed from the legislation, said Jasmine Panthaky, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Embassy in Washington.
"It reflects our opposition to the opening of oil and gas development in the Arctic refuge. We intend to continue to monitor developments and oppose any measures that may still allow for drilling in the [caribou] calving grounds."
The pre-Christmas spirit of acrimony in Washington extended to debate over the USA Patriot Act, the sweeping anti-terror legislation passed by Congress after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
A group of four moderate Republicans have joined with Democrats to block renewal of key domestic surveillance provisions in the act -- including roving wiretaps and secret record searches -- which expire on Dec. 31.
"The Patriot Act is scheduled to expire at the end of this year. The terrorist threat is not going to expire at the end of this year," Mr. Bush told reporters.
"This obstruction is inexcusable. The senators obstructing the Patriot Act need to understand that the expiration of this vital law will endanger America and will leave us in a weaker position in the fight against brutal killers."
Patriot Act opponents argue the legislation infringes on the civil liberties of Americans. Their opposition grew after revelations last week that Mr. Bush had secretly authorized domestic spying against terror suspects, bypassing normal requirements that court orders be obtained to conduct such surveillance.
"This is not a time to make irresponsible statements about what happens to this nation if the Patriot Act were to expire," Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont said.
© National Post 2005
Transeat In Exemplum: Let this stand as the example.
