Arctic Update:
The Senate narrowly passed (51-49) an FY07 budget resolution on March 16th that includes assumptions of revenue from drilling the Arctic Refuge.
In a late night session March 16th, all of the Democrats except for Senator Landrieu (D-LA) voted against final passage of the budget resolution. Independent Senator Jeffords and Republican Senators Chafee, Collins, DeWine, Coleman and Ensign also voted against the resolution. Senators Snowe, Smith, Specter and Voinovich voted for the budget resolution despite the assumption of drilling revenues.
The lobby effort on both sides of the aisle was intense and these Senators were under immense pressure. In the waning hours of debate there were a number of amendments that complicated the vote. Senator Snowe sponsored a successful amendment on drug benefits, Senator Specter offered a successful amendment on health care and Senators Landrieu, Vitter, Frist, and Domenici worked on plans to link Gulf Coast restoration to Arctic Refuge development revenues. One amendment provides $10 billion for Gulf Coast restoration and another provides $3.3 billion for low-income heating assistance.
The battle for the Refuge now moves to the House, where that body is scheduled to take up its own FY07 budget resolution the week of March 26th.
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