Alaska senators make another push for oil drilling in ANWR

[tpsbmam]

Source: McClatchy

Hoping to capitalize on consumer concern about gasoline prices, Alaska's two Republican senators introduced legislation Thursday that would allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge if the price of oil hits $125 a barrel.

With oil hovering near $110 a barrel and gasoline expected to reach $4 a gallon, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens said that they hoped the continuing price spiral would spark consumer clamor and overcome opposition to opening the wildlife refuge to drilling.

"This has got to come from the ground up," Murkowski said. "From the constituents, from the American consumer saying 'Enough, Congress.' This is the No. 1 issue domestically in the country right now, what is happening with the price of energy."

This year's proposal has a few new twists that Murkowski, the lead sponsor, says might help persuade some former skeptics.

After the state of Alaska gets a cut of the 12.5 percent royalties, 50 percent of the proceeds would go toward alternative energy research overseen by the Department of Energy. Another 33 percent would go toward federal low-income home energy assistance or weatherization programs. The final 17 percent would go toward the food stamp program.

Drilling in ANWR would do more than any economic stimulus package, Stevens said. It also would trim U.S. dependency on foreign sources of oil.

"The money we send overseas for oil could be spent in the United States, stimulate our economy," he said. "I think this country's going to need a real stimulus before this year's over."

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/30323.html

[0007]

1. My contempt for Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski knows no bounds.

"I think this country's going to need a real stimulus before this year's over"

I bet Paul Wellstone is jumping out of his grave right now.

[last_texas_dem]

2. The Alaskan Senators seem to see drilling in ANWR

the way most Repugs see tax cuts: a magical cure-all for any ill. They've been pushing this shit since Shrub first came into office, and here's hoping they still won't have succeeded at pushing ANWR drilling through when Shrub leaves office.

[durablend]

3. And I love it how

I see all the stupid shitheads (sheeple) who think this is somehow going to drop prices at the pump.

HERE'S A CLUE IDIOTS: THE OIL COMPANIES ARE WORKING FOR THEIR BEST INTERESTS...NOT YOURS!!!!!!!

[WhiteTara]

4. why aren't they in jail?

Ted Stevens should not be in our senate

[singilarpoint]

5. Sometimes

This may be a little off topic, but you can sure tell that this is an election year.
Sometimes I have to flip over to Faux News just to get away from all of the bashing of the Democratic party, and all of the Republican cheer leading. Am I the only one that has noticed this?

[brentspeak]

6. So, Murkowski and Stevens are advocating nationalizing the drilling of this oil?

And where will the oil be sold? Overseas?

[Lorien]

7. And how many billions would go to Halliburtan for building the

infrastructure? You could cut our dependence on oil much further by insisting that the car manufacturers increase the mileage of their fleets!

If it's true that we could supply the entire nation with energy by building 100 square miles of solar panels, then THAT'S where our money should be spent. ANWR can only contribute 1-3% of America's needs for a few years at best, solar panels would give us clean, free energy for decades.

[ConcernedCanuk]

8. It's called "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" - REFUGE guys, - get it? - means keep ur paws off!!

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.
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And believe me,

I am also upset with our country's plan to rip up northern Alberta for more oil.

What we should be ripping up is NAFTA, and our obligation to send our oil and gas to the warmongering nation south of us.

We'd be fine keeping the resources we NEED for ourselves.

We got work to do with our own Government too.

Getting Harper out is #1 IMO.

[xxqqqzme]

9. I thought stevens was retiring - that nasty, nasty, mean little man

[Winterblues]

10. Nothing like giving the oil industry incentive to raise prices

Hey guys if you raise the price of oil to over $125 per barrel we will let you get your mitts on ANWR so get on it ya hear...:shrug:

[wordpix]

11. another "quick fix" by a BushCo shill. Listen, fuckhead AK senators: this is NOT going to

provide energy for our nation, won't create jobs in the Rust Belt, and whatever oil's there won't even be ready for 10-15 yrs. And how much oil will be needed to get ANWR oil to markets from faraway northern AK?

These fuckheads cannot plan past their noses, or their next campaign :puke: