WASHINGTON, 18 April — What do Alaskan oil and Israel have in common? It all depends, if you’re a Senator up for reelection — a lot.
The Senate on Tuesday tackled the hot political issue of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). In hopes of tipping Congress’ votes in their favor, the Republicans tried to resuscitate their proposal to drill for oil in ANWR by tacking on assurances of fuel for Israel, and a multibillion-dollar relief package for the US steel industry.
Opponents of the drilling initiative said the Israel and steel proposals showed how desperate the GOP was to pass the bill.
Submitted by Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska, a day after a huge pro-Israel rally at the Capitol, the proposal includes an amendment that would prohibit exporting the refuge’s oil to any country except Israel. It would also extend a current contract by ten years. Due to expire in 2004, by the amendment allows US to help Israel if its oil supplies were cut off.
The proposal prompted Democrats to threaten a filibuster. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Connecticut, said drilling proponents were “so desperate to drill in the Artic refuge (that) their arguments change based on the headlines of the day,” which he said were gas prices and the Middle East. “Next thing we know, they’ll say drilling will cut people’s taxes,” said Lieberman, a strong supporter of Israel.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, said Republicans don’t have the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
“We’re going to stop ANWR. We are the brakes to this administration when brakes are needed,” said Daschle.
Some senators say that the war against terrorism in the Middle East makes lessening US dependence on foreign oil a top priority.
The recent political upheaval in oil-rich Venezuela has caused prices at the pump to rise steeply in these past weeks, and gas prices here are the highest they’ve been in years.
“We think it’s critical for the national and economic security of this country,” Sen. Murkowski said Tuesday during a Capitol Hill rally attended by Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and more than 100 union supporters.
