Senate rejects drilling for oil in Arctic refuge [View all]

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Source: Anchorage Daily News

Senate rejects drilling for oil in Arctic refuge
By SEAN COCKERHAM
Anchorage Daily News
Published: March 13th, 2012 01:41 PM
Last Modified: March 13th, 2012 01:42 PM
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate on Tuesday resoundingly rejected a sweeping measure to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other protected areas to drilling as well as approve construction of the Keystone pipeline project.

The vote was the first time in four years the Senate has voted on a measure including ANWR drilling, and it failed miserably. The proposal needed 60 votes to pass and avoid a filibuster. It received only 41 votes in favor, with 57 senators against.

Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts pushed the measure as an amendment to the bill that funds transportation projects across the nation. His amendment was packed with so many controversial items it was bound to fail in the Democratic-controlled Senate. It was as much a jab at President Obama by Republican leaders during a time of high gas prices and election politics as anything else.

Alaska Democratic Sen. Mark Begich still broke with others in his party and voted for the amendment, saying he did it to back ANWR drilling.


Read more: http://www.adn.com/2012/03/13/2368427/senate-rejects-drilling-in-arctic.html