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Senate Republicans Vote for Drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
In July 2017, Smart Dissent posted twice about Trump's Executive Order to expand offshore drilling here and here. More recently in October 2017, Smart Dissent again posted twice about the progress Republicans were making on their multi-decade effort to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge here and here.
The next steps were taken last week, "hidden" the the GOP tax scam.
Legislation opening up a portion of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for leasing cleared a key Senate hurdle this week, when the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved it on a 13-10 vote. The measure is tied to the budget process that Republican leaders are using to advance the tax overhaul, which means the bill would only need 51 votes – not the usual 60 – to advance in the full Senate. That means they can conceivably pass their legislation with just Republican votes.
The Senate could soon approve oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with its bill to overhaul the nation's tax code.
Republicans have wanted to open drilling in the Arctic for over 40 years despite significant environmental impacts and also no revenue produced.
Over the past 40 years Republicans have repeatedly tried to approve ANWR drilling and repeatedly failed. The chance to use reconciliation and pass a measure with a bare 51-vote majority may be the best opportunity the GOP ever has to reach this coveted policy goal.
The measure would generate $1.1 billion over the coming decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
"The Energy and Natural Resources Committee has been instructed to raise a billion dollars, and at the same time the Finance Committee is trying to increase the deficit by $1.5 trillion with tax cuts for corporations and millionaires," Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said at this week's committee hearing. "The fact our committee's contribution to that deal is 0.07% of the Republicans' increased deficit spending shows that this is not a serious budget proposal. It's a cynical effort to open up the heart of the Artic Wildlife Refuge for oil."
What are some of the reasons we have banned drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
- The remote and vast habitat... serves as the main calving ground for one of North America’s last large caribou herds and a stop for migrating birds from six continents....
- [Seismic studies], which sends shock waves underground...would disturb denning polar bears, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, as well as musk oxen and other Arctic animals.
- An increasing number of polar bears are now denning onshore during the winter — when seismic studies would take place — due to diminishing sea ice, and a significant portion of the coastal plain is designated as critical habitat for the bears.
Sources:
http://smartdissent.com/article/trumps-white-house-continues-effort-renew-drilling-arctic-national