The GOP tucks the drilling measure into the budget resolution to keep the Dems from launching a filibuster. Kerry, who made opposition to drilling a theme of his presidential campaign, said the vote would be close. Kerry said, "It underscores the weakness of the GOP position that they have try to slide drilling in the Arctic into a budget bill."

Seven or 8 GOP Senators need to cross over to the Dem position for the drilling bill to fail.

Senate Votes to Forbid Drilling Filibuster

Updated 3:27 PM ET March 10, 2005

http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pr...88oarcg0&src=ap

By ALAN FRAM

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats trying to head off the opening of an Alaskan wildlife refuge for oil exploration lost the year's first skirmish Thursday as the Senate Budget Committee voted to clear the way for drilling.

By a 12-10 vote, the Republican-led panel voted to forbid Senate filibusters against legislation later this year allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Filibusters, a procedural delay, require the votes of 60 of the 100 senators to end _ a margin that drilling supporters would probably find difficult to achieve.

The vote kept intact language in the $2.56 trillion budget granting the procedural protection to the opening of the reserve, which has pitted economic and environmental interests against each other. Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., who led the effort to strip the provision, said putting it in the budget was "a backdoor maneuver."

But Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said claims of potential environmental damage go "far beyond reality" and said the reserve would create jobs.....

3/16/2005
Senate Votes to Sacrifice Arctic Refuge for Oil
Nancy Pelosi:
By a razor-thin margin, the U.S. Senate voted today to sacrifice the majestic Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for an insignificant amount of oil. Despite public opposition, the Administration and Republicans in Congress pushed a flawed energy plan that opens the Refuge to drilling - threatening the habitat of more than 200 species and doing little to encourage energy independence. Drilling in the Arctic is the wrong answer to the energy challenges that America faces.

For all Americans who love the wilderness and treasure our natural resources, this is a sad day. But the fight is not over. Democrats are committed to protecting America's most pristine national wildlife refuge and promoting an environmentally sound energy policy that invests in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. Working together, we can leave the next generation of Americans with a responsible energy plan that decreases our dependence on foreign oil and protects our nation's wild lands and creatures.