Senate votes down effort to block drilling in Alaska refuge

[highplainsdem]

Source: The Hill

The Senate on Thursday defeated a Democratic attempt to block oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

A group of Democrats, led by Sen. Maria Cantwell (Wash.), offered an amendment to the Senate’s budget resolution looking to prevent potential drilling in the Alaska refuge as a way to raise revenue for the federal government.

Most Democrats and environmentalists consider the refuge in northern Alaska to be too environmentally sensitive to allow oil drilling there, a position pushed by Cantwell and others as debate on the budget moved forward this week.

“The notion that we, tonight, after 60-plus years, would give up what is a biologically important area, a critical habitat for polar bears, a breeding ground for caribou, migratory birds and over 200 species — for what? For oil we don’t need?” Cantwell said during floor debate late Thursday.

-snip-

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/356331-senate-votes-down-effort-to-block-drilling-in-alaska-refuge

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It was a 52-48 vote, with Joe Manchin voting against this Democratic amendment, and Susan Collins voting for it.

[Equinox Moon]

1. This is so painful. The decimation of our planet and lack of respect

and reverence for nature, life and earth.

[sandensea]

2. Sure. What could go wrong.

[benld74]

3. Effing idiots

[sinkingfeeling]

4. I despise them all. Every f**king Republican in the Senate.

[moda253]

5. Ya know how people interpret the 2nd amendment?

It may be time that we start to use that interpretation as well.

If we really are getting down to the time where we either act to save the planet or we just let them kill us all.... Well the choice is becoming easier isn't it? At some point we may need to start safeguarding these lands.

[Maxheader]

6. tRUMP

is slobbering all over itself. Lurvs listening to people
dedicated to preserving...cry.

[Bayard]

7. Bastards

When you have female polar bears stranded on ice floes due to catastrophic warming, and having to eat their cubs to stay alive, you are killing us all.

[Luciferous]

8. Why doesn't Manchin just join the Republican party?

[riversedge]

9. Another sad vote by the repugs!