Its make or break for the Arctic today! Help us defend this national treasure. Don't let Congress use the Budget to advance the controversial issue of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Toll free is 1-888-8-WILD-AK (1-888-894-5325) or call the capitol switchboard at 202 224-3121 Please call your Congressman: *Tell them: "Vote against any budget resolution that includes reconciliation instructions that could lead to Arctic Refuge oil drilling." Then call our two senators and leave them the same message. The wording of your message is important because the budget resolution may not even mention the words "Arctic Refuge." It is more likely to contain "reconciliation instructions" to the House Resources Committee and the Senate Energy Committee requiring them to find budget savings of $1.4 billion or more. The pro-drilling chairmen of these committees would then be free to say they will generate new revenue by allowing drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Though the leadership tried to bury the provision under the cloak of "reconciliation instructions," Don't be fooled. This is the language drilling proponents need to change current law and open the Arctic Refuge to oil development. The House is expected to take up the conference report to the FY 2006 Budget Resolution today and the Senate will follow. Drilling proponents are trying to use the Budget process to advance the controversial issue of Arctic drilling by including an assumption of revenues that would be gained through lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We are VERY close to having the votes to reject this attempt to allow oil drilling in the Arctic. On the House side, the Budget only passed by 4 votes the first time around and in the Senate the margin was two votes. Members of Congress who are against Arctic drilling could make the difference on whether the Budget passes.This is our best shot to beat Arctic drilling. This is THE vote. DON'T BE FOOLED Even if the Budget Resolution does not say the words "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" these reconciliation instructions would give pro-drilling Chairmen Pombo and Domenici an open invitation to avoid a filibuster on this important issue through a reconciliation bill later this year. Both Chairmen have repeatedly and publicly affirmed their intention to open the Refuge through any means possible. Consequently, the FY 2006 budget bill could set back 45 years of protection for our nation's largest and wildest Refuge. Contact your Senators and Congressman and urge them to vote to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by voting against a budget that includes ANY reconciliation instructions to the Energy or Resources Committee. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]