Arctic Drilling Vote Expected Next Week

After many weeks (and months) of rhetoric, Senator Murkowski has finally
given the signal that he will try to bring up his amendment to open the
coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge to oil drilling. We expect that he will
offer his amendment on Tuesday, April 8 when the Senate resumes
consideration of the Energy Bill (S.517).  This means that after following
the necessary Senate procedures, the Arctic drilling amendment should be
voted on Thursday, April 11.

Our environmental champions in the US Senate - led by Senators John Kerry
of Massachusetts and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut - have already begun
lining up allies to block Senator Murkowski's amendment  by filibustering
it--forcing extended debate on this controversial amendment.  Drilling
proponents would be forced to secure 60 votes to shut off the debate and
end the filibuster.

Now is the time to call your Senators.  You can reach them through the U.S.
Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or you can call their in state office.
This is a good time to call all Senators, to thank and shore up those who
are with us and to encourage all those who have not yet decided how they
will vote.  Tell them the vote is coming this week and you care how they
vote.

  ASK YOUR SENATORS TO SUPPORT THE KERRY-LIEBERMAN FILIBUSTER TO PREVENT
           OIL DRILLING IN THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.

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