Moderate Republicans are Key to Stopping Proposals to open the Arctic Refuge
to Drilling

Rep. Jeb Bradley of New Hampshire is circulating a sign on letter urging
Chairman Pombo not to use the Budget to authorize oil drilling in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge.  Based on the last Budget vote, a handful of
Republicans have the leverage to prevent them from passing a Budget. Please
ask your Republican Congressman to sign onto the Bradley letter and help us
defeat Arctic drilling.  (See copy of letter below.)

 

I have called Rep. Leach's office on behalf of the Chapter.  Others are invited and encouraged to call his office too.  His phone number is 202-225-6576.

Background
Proponents of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development
are trying to advance the controversial issue of Arctic drilling through the
Budget process.  The Budget Resolution which narrowly passed the House of
Representatives in April, includes an assumption of revenues from lease sales
in the Arctic Refuge.  The Congressional leadership was surprised by the
close 211-214 vote, as all Democrats and 15 Republicans voted against the
Resolution.  11 of the 15 Republicans did so because of their objection to
the inclusion of drilling revenues.  The vote could have been even closer
had seven Democratic allies not been absent for the vote.

But this sets up a major showdown in late September when they try to pass
the final Budget Reconciliation package.  We are busy in DC pounding the
halls of Congress urging members of Congress to vote against any Budget
Reconciliation package that would authorize drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge.  We can defeat the Budget in September if the democrats
remain united and we pick up six moderate Republicans (to cushion us against
last minute arm-twisting off the floor).  Traditionally, there are 25-30
moderate Republicans that consistently vote against drilling in the Arctic.
Some of these members of Congress said they would be with us on a final vote
but hid behind the notion that the Budget Resolution didn't explicitly
mention the Arctic (though all are aware that Chairman Pombo has said he
will use his Budget instructions to authorize drilling).

Target List--House Moderate R Arctic Supporters who voted FOR the Final
Budget:
Bradley (NH 1)
Ehlers (MI 3)
Frelinghuysen(NJ11)
Ferguson (NJ 7)
Smith (NJ 2)
Gilchrest (MD 1)
Kelly (NY 19)
Kennedy (MN 6)
Kirk (IL 10)
Gerlach (PA 6)
Reichert (WA 8)
Schwarz (MI 7)
Sensenbrenner (WI 5)
Petri (WI 6)

House Moderate R Arctic Supporters who voted AGAINST the Final Budget:
Ramstad (MN 3) Castle (DE 1) Bass (NH 2) Boehlert (NY 24) Johnson (IL 15)
Shays (CT 4) Simmons (CT 2) Johnson (CT 5) Leach (IA 2) LoBiondo (NJ 2) -
could be top priority target, last to vote Saxton (NJ 3)

MISC.
Inglis (SC 4)-peak oil, voted against Budget
Bartlett (MD 6) -peak oil, voted for Budget
Fitzpatrick (PA 8)
Walsh (NY 25)


Bradley Letter Text version:




                               July 19, 2005

The Honorable Richard Pombo
Chairman
Committee on Resources
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Pombo,

We are contacting you in strong opposition to any attempt to meet the
Resources Committee reconciliation requirement by opening the coastal plain
of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling or
exploration.

We believe that the reconciliation process is an inappropriate venue to be
debating this important environmental issue.  We understand the need to
reign in mandatory spending and support the reconciliation process, however
it is our belief that an effort to include ANWR in the reconciliation will
further complicate an already difficult situation.

As you know ANWR represents one of the last large pristine natural
environments left in our country.  In 1980 Congress recognized the need to
protect this national treasure and prohibited any oil and gas drilling or
exploration on the coastal plain.  We believe that the debate on opening
this unique land to oil and gas exploration should be done outside of the
budget process, not as part of an omnibus bill.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter, and we look
forward to working with you throughout the reconciliation process.


                               Respectfully,