Group Of Republicans Warn Against Plans To Drill In Fragile Arctic Wildlife Refuge

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Huffington Post

12/01/2017 04:11 pm ET

“Any development footprint in the refuge stands to disrupt this fragile, critically important landscape,” the 12 House GOP lawmakers wrote.

By Chris D’Angelo

WASHINGTON — Twelve House Republicans have come out against the latest GOP-led effort to open up a 1.5 million-acre swath of Alaska’s fragile Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development.

Included in the Senate version of the Republican tax plan is a bill, introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), that would require Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to approve at least two lease sales for drilling — each no fewer than 400,000 acres — in the coastal plain area of the refuge. This region in northeast Alaska, also know as the 1002 Area, is home to polar bears, moose and caribou, and has been the subject of a decades-long battle between energy producers and conservationists.

In a letter Thursday to party leaders, GOP Reps. Dave Reichert (Wash.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Ryan Costello (Pa.) and others said the refuge, better known as ANWR, “stands as a symbol of our nation’s strong and enduring natural legacy.”

“Any development footprint in the refuge stands to disrupt this fragile, critically important landscape,” the group wrote to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Read more: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/republican-letter-arctic-wildlife-refuge_us_5a21a3cfe4b03c44072d6e33?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

[marble falls]

1. Are they sure they read their talking points correctly?

[hatrack]

2. Little late now, you fucking buffoons . . . .

[Lulu KC]

4. Not too late I hope

The vote's not over. They can pull it out. I HOPE!!!!!

[Angry Dragon]

6. Senate and House would still have to work out differences and both would have to vote again

[Lulu KC]

3. Thank God

They finally woke up to this. And there are republicans who care about it. My friends and I have been working against this drilling for 32 years, and there were others before us.

[riversedge]

8. Question is---is it enough for a few of them to say to no to the tax bill??

[Lulu KC]

10. I think they may be able to get it pulled out of the otherwise onerous bill

In my memory, there are always last minute additions and subtractions. I think, for instance, that Flake believes the DACA portion will be improved by final version.

[Larrybanal]

5. glut of oil and low prices

but the republicans still want to drill at any cost...just like they want cut taxes and gut social security and medicare...all the republican sacred cows...screw americas future

[hatrack]

18. It will piss off liberals - that's the only reason

As you note above, it sure as shit doesn't make any economic sense.

It's a fetish object, a magic totem that they can shake at the inbred mouth-breathing base and say "See? Look how much this pissed off those evil liberals!!!"

[old guy]

7. All they are doing is trying to protect themselves in next years election.

After this tax fiasco they will be very vulnerable so they want to appear human. Do not buy this crap people.

[Chakaconcarne]

12. Exactly

The GOP always tries to have it every which way....

(That's why they always have so many primary candidates.....)

These talking points will go out to a certain audience only come election.

[hatrack]

13. Yep - it's the ever-so-bipartisan "Climate Solutions Caucus" all over again . . .

You know, the Caucus so dedicated to protecting Earth's climate that they just welcomed a guy who introduced a bill just this spring to eliminate the EPA (Matt Gaetz R-FL). Among their members - Darrell Issa, who can boast of a lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters of 4.

And they've boldly spoken out against an amendment that would have outlawed the DOD from studying the effects of climate change, particularly sea level rise, on the 10 bases most threatened by rapid warming for each of the armed services. Wow, courageous!

Who signed the meaningless boilerplate letter about their "concerns"? Any CSC members? Why, yes! Gosh, of the twelve signatories (all Republicans), eight are members of the Caucus For More Studying Of Stuff, But Only In A Bipartisan Way, And Maybe Someday They'll Produce A Stillborn Bill On Carbon Pricing Or Something:

Carlos Curbelo - FL 26
Leonard Lance - NJ 7
Ryan Costello - PA 6
Patrick Meehan - PA 7
Brian Fitzpatrick - PA 8
John Faso - NY 19
Elise Stafanik - NY 21
Dave Reichert - WA 8

Polishing a turd doesn't even begin to describe this.

[Doitnow]

9. Now we're expected to believe some Rethugs are out there trying to convince us that

they want to do something good for our world? Nice try. In the end, they all vote the SAME. Lie, Cheat and Steal. That's their motto. Period.

[Miigwech]

11. Repubs are always against the enviornment

What gives?

[pnwmom]

14. Dave Reichert of WA has already announced his retirement, so he can in this small instance

actually represent his constituents.

[Permanut]

15. We no longer have..

a "..strong and enduring natural legacy."

[WinkyDink]

16. Too late, morans.

[turbinetree]

17. Murkowski is a two face hypocrite, if she can sell her own state and the world down the tube for

Last edited Sat Dec 2, 2017, 09:09 AM - Edit history (1)

greed, and then "pass" a tax bill legislation to screw people out of there health care, Social Security and Medicare, because she just did that------------------she has no moral principles

And if and when they get this piece of shit legislation through the proverbial toilet---------------let's send Liza Murkowski big Thank You on her hypocrisy, because apparently she forgot this...........................

https://secure.actblue.com/