Why did Akaka and Inoyue vote 'aye' for cloture? Answer:

[WilliamPitt]

Because Alaska and Hawaii have a mutual defense pact on many votes. As the two non-continental states, their officials decided long ago to back each other's plays on a variety of issues. Akaka and Inoyue vote to open ANWR whenever it comes up, and Murkowski and Stevens will then vote for programs and legislation favorable to Hawaii.

Party loyalty takes a back seat to this side deal. It has been in place for a while now.

So now you know.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Thanks!

I was curious about that, and now I know!:)

[RubyDuby in GA]

2. Do we have a rundown yet on how everyone voted?

I just wanna see in print how my two asshat senators voted 'aye'.

[WilliamPitt]

All the dems voted no except

Akaka, Inoyue, Landrieu and a fourth I can't recall.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Nelson of Nebraska

Of course.

[WilliamPitt]

7. Thanks

[LSK]

8. ok, can someone explain his vote?

I dont blame Landrieu because of the Katrina funding. But Nelson?

[WilliamPitt]

9. He's a Democrat from Nebraska

They use Democrats for target practice in Nebraska.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. rofl

so true.:rofl:

[RubyDuby in GA]

6. Thanks Will!

I've got Sackofshit Chambliss and pissant Isakson and I'm 1000% sure how they voted.

[leftstreet]

3. Alaska is sorely lacking in Alzheimer research monies

Ted keeps wandering off, but no one goes looking for him and he ends up on the Senate floor.

[tavalon]

17. And once again

my strict rule about no beverages while reading DU saves my keyboard. :rofl:

[LSK]

4. Thanks Will n/t

[Bumblebee]

10. I am surprised that Snowe and Collins voted "aye" -- isn't Maine

a very environment-friendly state? What gives? How come they do not fear the outrage?

I know Snowe has to pick her fights against her own party, as she did with the Patriot Act -- but still...

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. Thank you! I always wonder why?

Now I know. Thanks.

assholes.

[bigtree]

13. Hawaii's Dependent on Alaska Oil

Hawaii is heavily dependent on imported oil. This is in part
due to the State's lack of indigenous fossil fuels, relatively
high fuel oil consumption for electric power generation and lack
of economically competitive alternative energy sources, and an
economy dominated by tourism, agro- processing, and the military,
making transportation the State's largest energy consuming
sector.131 These and other factors, including Hawaii's geographic
isolation and lack of overland access to energy sources, render
Hawaii unique among the fifty states with respect to its reliance
on imported oil and vulnerability to supply disruptions.132 The
State Energy Resources Coordinator has identified the following
factors as contributing to the State's energy vulnerability:133

(1) Market disruption. Hawaii is dependent on imported oil
for over ninety-two percent of its energy needs. "This
makes Hawaii the most vulnerable state in the nation to
the disruption of its economy and way of life in the
event of a disruption of the world oil market or rapid
oil price increases."134

(2) Declining reserves. Forty percent of the State's oil
comes from Alaska and the remainder from the Asia-
Pacific region. The export capabilities of these
sources of supply are expected to decline by
approximately fifty percent by the year 2000. These
factors will probably increase the Hawaii's dependence
on the oil reserves of the politically unstable Middle
East.135

(3) Geographic location. The long distance from the United
States Petroleum Reserve in Louisiana and Texas,
together with the declining number of U. S. flag
tankers that are capable of transiting the Panama
Canal, make timely emergency deliveries problematic,
thereby further rendering the State vulnerable to
supply disruptions in a crisis.

http://www.hawaii.gov/lrb/rpts95/petro/pet3.html

[quaoar]

14. It's more specific than that.

It has to do with the so-called Akaka bill, which would allow for a Hawaiian governing body to negotiate native land claims with the federal government. Stevens supports the Akaka bill.

http://www.kaleo.org/vnews/display.v/ART/4373019b59bde

[Generic Other]

15. Dirty politics

Doesn't anybody ever vote their conscience? Oh, I forgot. They don't have them.

[Cleita]

16. Yes, those exact words came to me. n/t

[Jara sang]

18. Race played a big part in HI and AK becoming states.

The South would only allow Hawaii to become a state only if Alaska became a state as well. The south did not want another two votes from a liberal, racially mixed state for cloture in the Senate.