Hello Friends of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, First - I want to thank you all for your support for the Arctic Refuge, and your hard work to educate our Senators on this issue! The fight continues - but it is through the dedication of all of you that we have won "against the odds" so far last session and will do so again this year. Thank you, thank you. Last night the Senate has passed the Budget by the razor thin margin 51-49, which included language to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil leasing. The budget process is the vehicle of choice for drilling backers because it is immune to filibuster, and represents their only hope of passing the repeatedly defeated drilling proposal. This vote is only the first in a multi-stage process that will determine the fate of the Arctic Refuge. The American people will stand strong against destruction and will prevail once again this year in making sure this measure does not become law. The Senate has not learned the meaning of "No", despite overwhelming public opposition. The facts are: the numbers do not add up regarding the proposed revenue generation, the proof by the most recent oil spill - the largest ever in the North Slope of Alaska two weeks ago - that drilling is not environmentally benign and it is not a question of If but of When destructive "accidents" occur, drilling is a known threat to the unique and threatened wildlife that use this area, and drilling may be the inevitable end to a sustainable, and culturally rich, way of life for the Gwich'in native communities who rely on this area for their survival. The Senate insists on pushing us into the past and our addiction to oil and fossil fuel burning despite the fact that the majority of citizens in this country are far past ready to move to new innovative energy technologies. We want to end our over-dependence on oil and reduce the build up of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. We need a clean Congress, clean energy policies and we need to continue the tradition of protection for our last great wild places for wildlife and future generations. Could it be that our Senate is "insane" ?? - It is high time for a change. Region Vote Results: (please take a moment to thank our champs and show your disappointment for the bad votes.) Minnesota - Senator Coleman and Senator Dayton voted correctly and opposed this bad bill. Iowa - Senator Harkin opposed and Senator Grassley supported. South Dakota - Senator Johnson opposed and Senator Thune supported. North Dakota - Senator Conrad and Senator Dorgan opposed this bad bill. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 thank you again! Lois Norrgard Regional Organizer Alaska Coalition 10368 Columbus Circle Bloomington MN 55420 ph/fx: 952.881-7282 [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]