While the House has taken the ANWR proposal out of the budget, it is not out of play yet. The Washington Post pointed out in a story today discusses the Senate's version of the budget and ANWR is still in their budget.

Apparently bridge-playing Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Pete Domenici (R-NM) have said nothing goes unless ANWR stays in and they're perfectly willing to drag this out into next year to keep it going.

More important, the Senate negotiators on a House-Senate conference committee will include Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.), who have made it clear to House and Senate leaders they will not agree to any final measure that does not include Arctic drilling. One senior GOP aide in the Senate said Domenici and Stevens are willing to bottle up the budget package well into next year if the House does not relent on Arctic drilling.

And this just might happen. House moderates, it would seem are ready to rumble. The were hesitant to have ANWR in their in the first place.

Because of that, some moderates were reluctant to even negotiate. "I want something more than a feel-good press release that will be operable for no more than a few hours," said Rep. Sherwood L. Boehlert (R-N.Y.).

Chamberlain said the members of her coalition stressed again last night that they would vote against any final agreement that reinstated the drilling provisions.

House leaders have scoured the GOP conference for other votes. They may modify a provision that would restrict access to food stamps for some legal immigrants to win over balking Latino Republicans, said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). They may also drop a measure that would end the practice of channeling some import duties to companies harmed by illegal trade practices, hoping to win over industrial-district lawmakers.

This is another load of garbage. We here in Kentucky can see some of what unrestrained development is capable of. They're removing the tops from mountains and they're talking about restarting oil wells. The absolute key will be to find alternative fuels, alternative power sources. It will make us strategically independent and be more sound for our economy.

Something else to note here is the lack of Tom Delay's influence. I really don't think this problem would be happening if he were still in charge. He knew how to work the House and get things done. While Hastert is Speaker, he's not the strongest voice in the House. Delay was and now there's a void. He may return, but he won't be speaker anymore. The Republicans, if they want to retain power are going to have to work hard and fast to recover or they might see some major power changes in 2006.

posted by Stithmeister @ 1:51 PM
 
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