From Jessica Hodge at Sierra Club

DC Public Lands Action Update
July 2003
Bad Energy Bill is Resuscitated

ENERGY BILL - Back From the Dead

In a stunning turn of events the Senate passed National Energy Legislation
this week - dramatically increasing the threats to the Arctic Refuge,
America's coastlines and western public lands. All signs pointed to the
clock striking midnight for the ill conceived Senate energy bill. As late
as Thursday morning Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) indicated that
the Senate would not complete its work on the bill before leaving for the
month long August recess. Then in a desperate move Republican Senators
offered last year's Democratic passed bill as an alternative. In a stunning
turn around the Democratic leadership accepted this proposal.

Now the fall looks to be filled with the same backroom deals and scam
compromises that we saw during last year's conference between the House and
Senate. With pro-development Republicans controlling BOTH the House and
Senate the so-called negotiators will produce an immense bill packed with
subsidies to destructive timber, mining and oil companies and the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge will be served up for multinational oil companies
to plunder. America deserves a safe and clean energy blueprint that does
not threaten special places like the Arctic Refuge. Unfortunately the
Senate kicked the door wide open instead of slamming it shut on this much
maligned and ill-conceived national energy policy.

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