After the Senate passed a budget that included a provision opening the Arctic Refuge to oil drilling and after heavy legislative maneuvering and strong-arm tactics by the Republican leadership, President Bush and big oil got what they wanted. Or so it appeared.
Last week, ANOTHER huge outpouring of grassroots support led the House Budget Committee to reject the Republicans' drilling provision. The stage is set for another showdown for the Arctic Refuge, and again we will have the chance to work together to win.
We have stopped proponents of oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge time and again, but at this moment they are closer than ever to getting their way. When the conference committee considers the final version of the budget, Republicans will have the chance to put the Arctic drilling provisions back in.
Every member of the House is up for re-election, and the Republicans know that drilling in the Arctic is one of their least popular proposals. The lack of popular support for oil drilling is exactly why they have avoided any up or down vote. They now depend exclusively on exploiting loopholes in the legislative process because they know that it is the only way they can win.
Once again, the way we will stop them is to show Congress that people are watching this vote. They need to know that complicated amendments, loopholes, and backroom deals will not hide what they are trying to do. They need to know that the American people are paying attention.
Over the coming weeks I am going to call on you to act. I know that you will stand with me and I know that together we can score yet another victory. I firmly believe that we will take back the Senate in 2006, and if we can hold out until then, we will have the chance to permanently protect the Arctic Refuge and start working toward real energy independence. Until then we are going to have keep fighting. Every small battle can be a big victory.
I promise you that I will not back down.
Thank you for your ongoing support,
Maria Cantwell
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