Senate:

The Senators are debating and voting on amendments presently on the Budget Resolution. Senator Gregg (R-NH) the Budget Committee chair has included drilling instructions in his Resolution. There may be an amendment from Sen. Cantwell that will try to remove this language, but the main focus of our work has been to work with Senators to oppose the bill and stop final passage. This vote is scheduled to happen later today. Calls to Senator Grassley can still be helpful today (DC 202-224-3744, Waterloo 319-232-6657  Des Moines 515-284-4890   Cedar Rapids 319-363-6832    Davenport 319-322-4331)

 

House:

Chairman Nussle has postponed his Budget Resolution until after the coming recess (recess is next week) and will bring up this bill starting end of March or first part of April. This gives us continued time to work on messages into his office in opposition of including drilling language in the bill!

 

The "rumors" have it that one of the reasons for the delay and controversy is the drilling issue. If the Senate votes down their bill it is thought that the House will not have the momentum to put Arctic in their version and we may be free of Budget fights this year.  (Yeh!!).

 

I want to thank everyone for all of their help on this issue to date, raising again, the public opposition to drilling in our pristine Arctic Natl Wildlife Refuge in the key leadership Congressional offices is how we will stop this ill-conceived idea NOW.

 

We all know that Arctic drilling has nothing to do with balancing budgets or energy independence. Drilling in the Arctic Refuge is neither a solution to the nation’s budget crisis nor sound energy policy. We need Congressional leadership towards new cleaner technologies, conservation, and energy efficiencies.